I work in person in Alnwick on Mondays to Wednesdays (10am to 7pm) and also work online on these days.

I'm an ex-NHS counsellor, with 20 years experience, offering general and trauma-informed counselling, tailored to meet your needs and improve your mental health and wellbeing. I work in person and online.

I’m based in Alnwick, Northumberland. I take great pleasure in helping people cope with the general pressure of life, whether this is work-related stress, anxiety around relationships, or leftover troubles from earlier days.

I specialise in working with anxiety, low self-esteem/self-confidence, and the after-effects of trauma - which can be linked to one traumatic event, or, even more commonly, long-term relationship trauma or a traumatic childhood. With a responsive and client-centred approach, along with the possibility of EMDR, I hope I can create a safe and supportive space for you to explore your feelings and experiences.

I have a deep understanding of the impact that stress, anxiety, and trauma can have on mental health and well-being, and I will work collaboratively with you to develop coping strategies and techniques to manage your symptoms effectively.

I am trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches, including the person-centred approach, mindfulness-based therapy, cognitive skills, EMDR and trauma-focused therapy, allowing me to tailor my interventions to meet the your unique needs. I have long-term experience in all these ways of working.

I appear on the The Anti-Discrimination Race Aware Directory.

I am committed to providing a non-judgmental and empathic environment where you can feel heard, understood and supported, as you navigate your journey towards emotional well-being.

I look forward to talking to you on your free no-commitment 20-minute introductory Zoom or phone call.

I have worked in private practice since 2005 and I’ve taken great pleasure in seeing my clients find new and creative ways of living their lives. I have many years experience of working online as well as in person.

I was an NHS staff counsellor for 10 years, working extensively with people suffering from low self-esteem/self-confidence, anxiety, work-related issues and the aftermath of trauma. I have been a counselling supervisor for several years. I am an EMDR Europe qualified practitioner.

My general counselling and supervision work is rooted in a person-centered approach, which emphasises deepening the client's own understanding of themselves and what is troubling them, beginning to value themselves more, and developing the strength and capacity to deal with what they may be experiencing.

I have found that teaching/cultivating body awareness and other creative aspects of therapy are powerful paths to self discovery and personal growth.

In addition to general counselling, since 2005 I have been offering a specialist service for personal development, self development and support for those in the helping professions, NHS or caring professions, for example NHS staff, teachers, social workers, psychotherapists and counsellors.

I offer counselling supervision and have been a clinical supervisor for several years. I worked with health service professionals in workplace counselling and and staff counselling for 10 years. I am an EMDR Europe qualified practitioner.

As a supervisor, my approach to supervision is collaborative and collegial while enquiringly challenging when appropriate. I'm a supervisor for practitioners who work in the person-centred or humanistic modalities, and in the helping professions.

Working online, I use equipment with firewalls, virus protection and password protection. In person, I work in a large and private dedicated consulting room.

I work in person in Alnwick on Mondays to Wednesdays (daytime and early evening) and also work online on these days.

In our first session, we will introduce ourselves, talk about what your hopes and wishes for the counselling/therapy are, and you will have the chance to find out how it feels to work with me; likewise I will get a sense of what it is that is bringing you.

If we haven’t already covered this in our introductory call, we can talk about whether you prefer the number of counselling sessions to be open-ended, or would like to book a block and then review.

You are then free to take as many sessions as you wish, in a weekly, fortnightly or monthly pattern. 

My qualifications and professional affiliations

BSc(Hons)Person-Centred Psychotherapy

Advanced Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Skills

Post-Graduate Diploma in Supervision

EMDR Europe qualified practitioner

Ruth McIlroy Registered Member MÌÇÐĹÙÍø(Accredited), Reg NCPS (Snr Accred) Counsellor and Supervisor, MA(Hons),BSc(Hons)Person-Centered Psychotherapy,DipCouns,Adv.Dip CBT Skills,PG Dip Supervision,EMDR Europe qualified practitioner.

Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 7pm

I am a Registered NCPS Senior Accredited Counsellor and Supervisor, and an MÌÇÐĹÙÍø(Accredited) Supervisor, with 25 years of counselling experience across the NHS and private practice settings. 

I use the 7-eyed model of supervision as a basis, and offer both online and face-to-face supervision to post-qualification counsellors and therapists, as well as practitioners in other helping professions. I am also a qualified EMDR practitioner.

My Approach

My aim as a supervisor is to offer a safe, stimulating, and genuinely supportive space in which you can bring both your successes and your dilemmas. I see supervision as a creative process — one that supports you in becoming an increasingly reflective practitioner, developing your own best practice, and growing in confidence, skill, and effectiveness.

 I encourage an open, non-judgemental exploratory approach to client work, where you can engage with challenge in the spirit of shared curiosity rather than defensiveness. Where appropriate, I will offer a fresh perspective and invite you to work at your learning edge, fostering the kind of self-enquiry that underpins excellent practice.

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I have been supervising since 2012, working with individual and group supervisees in private practice, NHS settings, counselling agencies, and with non-counsellor helping professionals. 

I've supervised counsellors from all modalities and very much appreciate how our differing perspectives can make supervision rich and illuminating. I also take great pleasure in working at depth with other person-centered and humanist counsellors, exploring how the person-centred approach expresses itself in our practice.

Practical Information

 I work in person and online. Online sessions are conducted using equipment with appropriate firewall, virus, and password protection.

Choosing a supervisor is a significant professional decision, and I encourage you to take the time to get it right. I offer a free, no-obligation 30-minute introductory conversation to discuss your supervision needs openly. Where both parties are happy to proceed, I suggest an initial three-month period, after which you have the opportunity for review.

I appear on the The Anti-Discrimination Race Aware Directory.