Welcome to my website
I am an intuitive coach, tarot reader, author and complementary
therapist. I believe that life is all about storytelling and I work with tarot, Gestalt therapy techniques, creative writing and vision boards to help my clients uncover meaning and forge direction.
I have woven all the strands of my life experience and study together to offer coaching. This work is for you if:
- You are going through a transitional phase in your life
- You feel ‘stuck’
- You wish to uncover, or rediscover, your creativity
- You want to set your intentions for a life full of vitality and purpose
Everyone has a story. I look forward to hearing yours, and working with you to write the next chapter as it unfolds.
‘We tell ourselves stories in order to live’ – Joan Didion
‘Nobody can stand truth if it is told to him. Truth can be tolerated only if you discover it yourself because then, the pride of discovery makes the truth palatable.’
– Fritz Perls, ‘Father of Gestalt therapy’
Intuitive Coaching
‘Nobody can stand truth if it is told to him. Truth can be tolerated only if you discover it yourself because then, the pride of discovery makes the truth palatable.’
– Fritz Perls, ‘Father of Gestalt therapy’
I have always been interested in stories: reading them, telling them, and listening to them. I first encountered tarot in my late teens and it has held a lifelong fascination. Understanding the patterns and secrets held by the cards and unlocking the symbolism behind them is the key to understanding how future choices and opportunities may unfold.
I see my role, and that of tarot, as a mirror to help clients to reflect on, and see, different life situations with a fresh perspective, allowing freedom to move forwards in life. I like to refer to my tarot readings as ‘coaching with pictures’, or intuitive coaching.
When I work with tarot, I focus less on the prescribed meanings of the cards and more on the themes they represent to me, and to my client, in that moment. Often, tarot is most effective as a dialogue; a two-way process. Active, as opposed to passive.
I also employ my intuition when reading for a client, drawing on my years of study at the College of Psychic Studies in London. I believe that it is possible to incorporate the spiritual arts on a practical level: to marry intuition with practical guidance and dialogue.
I spent a year immersing myself in the study of Gestalt psychotherapy and hold a Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills from The Gestalt Centre in London. I have also completed several workshops with The Gestalt Centre and my study – and fascination with Gestalt therapy – is ongoing. Fritz Perls, widely recognised as the founder of Gestalt therapy along with his wife Laura, called Gestalt ‘the therapy of the obvious’. I love the philosophy that we know our own truths.
I work one to one in person in Brighton and also online via Zoom.
Testimonial
"Recently I had a coaching session with Ali, I didn’t know much about her method beforehand apart from the advice to arrive to the session with openness. Due to the nature of using tarot cards the conversation was very honest and I felt each card really represented different aspects of my journey, both professionally and personally.
Ali has a strong presence and she was able to channel my energy and give me incredible insights throughout our session, it didn’t matter that it was online. Towards the end of the session, Ali gave really good advice, which linked the reading/conversation to clear actions and tasks. I found that incredibly helpful to be able to manifest my insights.
Anna
About Ali Norell
Once upon a time, I worked in public relations; telling the stories of organisations including Battersea Dogs and Cats’ Home and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. I then worked for over a decade as a reflexologist specialising in fertility and as a birth doula, travelling the world to train and work with the best in this field. During this time I also trained as a healer.
At the other end of life’s spectrum, I wrote a blog, Remembering Romy, and then a book, The Truth Inside, about the death of my youngest daughter, Romy, in 2014. I completed a two-year, MA level creative writing course with The Creative Writing Programme at New Writing South (2018-2020) and my fiction work has been longlisted in the Agora Lost the Plot work in progress prize and in the Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award. It also made the shortlist of the Genesis Emerging Writers Programme in 2021. My short stories on grief were shortlisted for the Cinnamon Pencil Award. I love to use creative writing prompts and journalling techniques with clients – we can often unlock parts of our unconscious this way. You can read more about my writing here.
I hold a Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills with The Gestalt Centre in London and love applying some of the theories and techniques of Gestalt psychotherapy to deepen my work with tarot.
I love languages and speak Italian, French and German. I have a lifelong passion for flamenco and danced for many years and I live in Brighton – the San Francisco of the U.K. – with my husband, three children and three cats.
About Ali Norell
Once upon a time, I worked in public relations; telling the stories of organisations including Battersea Dogs and Cats’ Home and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. I then worked for over a decade as a reflexologist specialising in fertility and as a birth doula, travelling the world to train and work with the best in this field. During this time I also trained as a healer.
At the other end of life’s spectrum, I wrote a blog, Remembering Romy, and then a book, The Truth Inside, about the death of my youngest daughter, Romy, in 2014. I completed a two-year, MA level creative writing course with The Creative Writing Programme at New Writing South (2018-2020) and my fiction work has been longlisted in the Agora Lost the Plot work in progress prize and in the Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award. It also made the shortlist of the Genesis Emerging Writers Programme in 2021. My short stories on grief were shortlisted for the Cinnamon Pencil Award. I love to use creative writing prompts and journalling techniques with clients – we can often unlock parts of our unconscious this way. You can read more about my writing here.
I hold a Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills with The Gestalt Centre in London and love applying some of the theories and techniques of Gestalt psychotherapy to deepen my work with tarot.
I love languages and speak Italian, French and German. I have a lifelong passion for flamenco and danced for many years and I live in Brighton – the San Francisco of the U.K. – with my husband, three children and three cats.
Retreat Days
Over many years, I have used my skills in tarot, creative writing and the healing arts to encourage people – most often women – to recognise their strengths and to begin to live in their own power. Now, I am excited to share with you all I have learned and practise for myself and send you back out into your life fizzing with energy and enthusiasm for what you may choose to create; eyes wide open to the opportunities that come your way.
I offer regular, immersive one-day retreats. These days run from 10 am to 4 pm and will be for a maximum of six participants (or twelve, for the mother/daughter groups).
We will begin the day with a relaxing meditation using singing bowls and visualisation, to ground us and prepare us for the day. We’ll get friendly with crystals and their unique energy, and work with the imagery of tarot to launch us into some creative writing and journaling (absolutely no experience necessary – I will guide you through everything, you will be writing just for you and only sharing if you feel you would like to).
Then, we’ll pull out all the art materials and start creating vision boards, setting our intentions for what we want to attract into our lives. You absolutely do not need to be creative, artistic or talented in any way to make a vision board. I supply loads of images, magazines, and materials to cut and stick, and you are welcome to use art materials to embellish – or not. Anyone can make a vision board! Believe me, once you start one, it becomes immersive and addictive.
We will build on this creative energy with creative writing and journalling (again, absolutely no experience necessary – I will guide you through everything, you will be writing just for you and only sharing if you feel you would like to). I like to run to a loose, relaxed schedule and if time permits we may incorporate some tarot, crystals or healing.
The day will cost £200. It will include all materials, plus a home-cooked vegetarian lunch, all drinks and delicious homemade cake in the afternoon.
Come and join me for a day of self-discovery with like-minded people. Step out of your life and into your own story.
'A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living.' - Virginia Woolf
Intuitive coaching
One-off session, 1 hour 15 minutes: £150
Six consecutive weekly sessions booked and paid for in advance: £800
I work in person and online.
One-day group retreats:
Full information above. Limited to six participants, all materials and refreshments included, £200.
Individual retreats:
An immersive, individually curated retreat day just for you. We will work one to one with tarot, vision boards, journalling and various other tools as appropriate to help you to unlock your potential. These sessions are in person only. £975.
Women’s Circles:
Ancient rites speak of ‘The Three Phases of Womanhood’ as being Maiden, Mother and Crone.
I love to use writing skills in my work with others. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard women in particular say, ‘I’m not at all creative’. Well, regardless of whether or not you happen to be a mother, I believe that every woman is in possession of an innate creativity and you’ll be surprised at what you can conjure up with a little bit of guidance.
Mother Daughter Empowerment Circle
Mother's Blessing Circle
Midlife Circle
Please get in touch with me to register your interest and I will add you to my mailing list for further details.
Contact Ali
You can email using the contact form below.
'Ali’s book radiates her belief of life after life. Her words are a gift to all those who mourn the loss of a loved one whether a child, parent or beloved other.'
Angie Buxton-King, author, The NHS Healer
'Ali Norell writes with heart and soul and her story makes for a healing, comforting and truly inspiring book.'
'Authentic and real, this beautiful book of hope touches the heart and opens the mind to a greater reality where love never dies. A wonderful read.'