Take Back Control, Live With Purpose
Welcome - I’m Alison, founder of Cognivia Therapy. Deciding to begin therapy is a brave step, and my aim is to make the process feel safe, supportive, and empowering. I offer counselling, CBT therapy, and coaching, working integratively to help you navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and health-related concerns.Through CBT and ACT-based counselling, Cognivia Therapy helps you break free from unhelpful patterns and move towards a life aligned with your values.
“You are not your thoughts. You are the observer of your thoughts.”
Amit Ray
Services
At Cognivia Therapy, I offer a range of support tailored to your individual needs - whether you're seeking structured CBT therapy, reflective counselling, or forward-focused coaching.
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I work integratively, drawing from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and coaching principles to create a flexible, personalised approach. This means we can adapt our work together depending on what feels most helpful for you - whether that’s exploring patterns, building practical tools, or clarifying your values and goals.
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CBT Therapy helps you understand and shift unhelpful patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It’s practical, evidence-based, and designed to equip you with lifelong tools for managing challenges.
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Counselling offers a safe, compassionate space to explore your experiences, emotions, and relationships at your own pace.
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Coaching supports you in navigating transitions, setting goals, and moving forward with clarity and confidence.
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Whether you're facing anxiety, low mood, self-doubt, or simply feeling stuck, we’ll work together to find a path forward that feels right for you.
“Feelings are much like waves. We can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.”
Jonatan Mårtensson
About Me
Beginning therapy is a courageous step, and I know that finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming. I’d like to share a little about how I work and who I am, so you can decide whether I might be the right person to walk alongside you.
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I am a qualified therapist with a Masters in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Psychology. I will work with you to untangle the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that may be holding you back. My aim isn’t just to support you through the challenges you’re facing today, but to give you tools and strategies you can carry with you for the rest of your life.
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Alongside my therapy practice, I bring over 20 years of experience in education, including working in alternative provision with young people facing mental health needs. I’ve also had the privilege of supporting many adults who made the brave decision to return to education, often carrying deep-seated insecurities. Walking with them through their journey and seeing them succeed has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
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I often return to the words of Viktor Frankl: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Therapy, like education, is about creating space for growth — meeting yourself with compassion, curiosity, and the belief that change is possible.
Areas of support at Cognivia Therapy
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health challenges, often leaving people feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or hopeless.
Through CBT and ACT, I help you identify unhelpful thought patterns, challenge negative beliefs, and build coping strategies. Together, we work towards restoring balance, improving mood, and finding ways to reconnect with the things that matter most to you.
Panic Disorders
Panic disorder involves sudden, intense episodes of fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms like racing heart, breathlessness, or dizziness.
Therapy provides tools to understand the cycle of panic, reduce avoidance behaviours, and regain confidence in daily life. CBT techniques can help you break the link between physical sensations and fear, while ACT encourages acceptance and resilience.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterised by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours or rituals that can feel impossible to control.
I use evidence-based CBT approaches, including exposure and response prevention, to help you gradually reduce compulsions and manage intrusive thoughts. Therapy focuses on regaining a sense of freedom and control, rather than being ruled by compulsions.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing trauma, leading to flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional distress.
Therapy provides a safe space to process traumatic experiences, reduce distressing symptoms, and rebuild a sense of safety. CBT and ACT approaches can help you move forward without being defined by the trauma.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety involves intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social situations, often leading to avoidance and isolation.
CBT helps you challenge unhelpful beliefs about yourself and others, while gradually building confidence through exposure to social situations. Therapy focuses on developing self-compassion and practical skills to feel more at ease with others.
Health Anxiety
Health anxiety is characterised by excessive worry about having or developing serious medical conditions, often leading to repeated checking, reassurance-seeking, or medical visits.
Therapy helps you understand the cycle of worry and reassurance, and teaches strategies to manage uncertainty and reduce preoccupation with health concerns. CBT and ACT approaches encourage acceptance, balance, and a healthier relationship with your wellbeing.
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Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to go through it alone. Therapy can help you understand your experiences, develop practical strategies, and reconnect with the things that matter most to you.