Alex Hayes, BACP

Alex Hayes is a BACP registered counsellor with three years of clinical experience working in counselling centres, addiction treatment settings, and private practice across Cape Town, Belgium, and now London. He combines professional training with lived experience of recovery to offer grounded support to people facing addiction, trauma, and major life changes. Alex uses a person-centred, client-guided way of working that prioritises the client’s goals and pace while offering challenge and practical support when it will help progress.

Before training as a therapist, Alex worked in corporate roles in London. Following his own recovery journey he retrained in Cape Town and moved into clinical roles to support others in similar situations. That background gives him a practical understanding of workplace pressures alongside direct experience of addiction and recovery, which informs his compassionate, non-judgemental approach. He aims to help people move out of dark places and build sustainable change, working collaboratively to tailor the process to each person’s needs. Alex has availability on Tuesdays and Thursdays and provides services as a registered professional with the BACP, meaning he is registered with a recognised counselling association.

Therapeutic approaches and accessible online support

Alex draws on several evidence-informed approaches to guide online work, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy, with attachment understanding woven throughout his practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and learn practical skills to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while taking meaningful action - it can be useful for anxiety, stress, and problems with motivation. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on creating a supportive, empathetic relationship in which the client leads the pace and direction of change - it suits people seeking a collaborative, respectful space to explore emotions and life decisions. Attachment-based ideas help when early relationship patterns affect present-day intimacy, trust, or emotion regulation, offering a lens to understand and shift recurring relational difficulties.

Finding the best approach is part of the therapy process; Alex works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time based on what proves most helpful. Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing people to access support around work, family, or location constraints. This range of formats makes it easier to keep therapy consistent and integrated into daily life while working with registered professionals and therapists who adapt to individual circumstances.