About Alex
Alex Hayes is a BACP counsellor who aims to walk alongside people during difficult times. He uses a person-centred, client-guided way of working and keeps the focus on what each person needs. He has practised counselling in a variety of settings and brings practical compassion to sessions.
He trained after leaving corporate work and retraining in Cape Town. He has three years of professional experience and has worked in counselling centres, addiction treatment settings, and independent practice across Cape Town, Belgium, and now London.
Background and approach
This mix of settings gives him direct experience with addiction and recovery pathways. Sessions tend to centre on what matters most to the person in front of him. He listens without judgement and helps people decide on small, achievable steps.
He will challenge unhelpful patterns when needed, but always in collaboration with the client. Alex commonly works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and relationship concerns. He also supports people with issues around identity and LGBT matters, grief, self-esteem, and life changes.
His additional focus areas include attachment and intimacy-related topics, eating and sleeping concerns, and compassion fatigue. He draws on several practical approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Attachment-Based Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. Sessions are scheduled according to his availability and use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What Alex works with
Everything Alex lists, in their own terms. LGBT is the reason Alex is listed here; the rest shows what else Alex works with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Approaches Alex lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
How Alex uses therapeutic approaches online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and take actions that match their values. It is often used for anxiety, low mood and getting unstuck from avoidance. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns in thinking and behaviour and trying small experiments to change them. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression and stress management.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Alex treats the decision as collaborative and will discuss which methods fit your needs, goals and preferences. He adapts tools from different approaches to match each person rather than using a single method for everyone.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since formats are not specified here. When considering online work, think about practical benefits such as fitting sessions around work or family commitments, saving travel time, and being able to join from a quieter room. These practicalities can make regular attendance easier and help therapy fit into everyday life. Confirm the exact session options and scheduling details before you book to make sure they meet your needs.
Questions people ask about Alex
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and relationship concerns. Other areas he supports include grief, self-esteem, identity and LGBT matters.
What is his style in sessions?
He uses a person-centred, client-guided way of working, listening without judgement and supporting clients to set their own goals. He will offer challenge when it helps the process.
What experience does he bring?
He has three years of counselling experience and has worked in counselling centres, addiction treatment settings and independent practice across Cape Town, Belgium and London.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is BACP registered and based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How does costing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to his listed availability.
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