top of page
Ocean Water

WORKING WITH ME

Whether you are new to counselling or looking for someone new, I've outlined some answers to the questions I most often hear from new clients.

​

What actually happens in counselling?

A counsellor can help you look at experiences and behaviours which make you feel alone, worried, sad or scared. Talking them through in a confidential setting with a trained professional can help you to understand them better and feel more confident about the role they have in your life.

​

Coming to counselling can be intimidating as it often involves looking at difficult issues which can make us feel vulnerable. We can work together to help you feel secure, and we will move at a pace that suits you.

​

What is your style? 

My approach can be boiled down to three words: change through insight. 

​

I’m a humanistic counsellor, and our relationship will be the biggest asset in working for change. It provides a space for you to know that your feelings and needs are accepted, which is often the first step to being able to explore them in depth. Understanding why we feel and act the way we do can help gain the clarity you need to make decisions on how to implement change. 

​

What happens in the first session?

The most important factor in counselling is the relationship between the counsellor and the client, so an introductory session is a chance for us to get to know each other. I know first sessions can be daunting, but we can talk about what issues have brought you to therapy and what you would like to achieve, and I can answer any questions about myself and what working with me would look like.

​

If we agree to work together, then we will set you a weekly 50-minute time slot. A weekly slot is the best way to find the stability needed to make change.

​


How long will we work together?

This varies for every client and issue so I don’t set a number of weeks for us to work together. â€‹â€‹What’s important is that, whether we work together for six weeks or a year, you feel in control of what’s happening. We will regularly review how our sessions are progressing, but ultimately it's in your control as to how long feels right. 

​

How regular are sessions?

All my clients start with a weekly slot. Some later drop down to fortnightly, depending on what feels right for them, but starting weekly is important to get the work started. 

​

As the work nears an end, some clients choose to drop frequency further to monthly or ad hoc sessions. When we finish, my door remains open - you can always come back for one-off or regular sessions (depending on my schedule at the time), so there is no 'cliff edge' ending.

​


What is your fee?

I charge £70 for in-person sessions and £65 for online slots (Thursday mornings and lunchtimes), and also offer a free half-hour initial appointment.



What is your cancellation policy?

If you are unable to attend your appointment then please give at least one week’s notice, or the regular session fee will be charged. If a lot of sessions are cancelled then we will discuss if now is the right time to pursue counselling.

​

Are our sessions confidential?

Sharing in counselling sessions can be hard, but what is discussed in sessions is confidential. There are some very specific exceptions around safeguarding, and legal exceptions which all therapists must abide by (such as money laundering and terrorism). As with all therapists, I also have a supervisor with whom I discuss my work. You can find out more about confidentiality in my privacy policy.

What are your qualifications?

I trained for three years at the Metanoia Institute, and have a diploma and BSc in humanistic counselling. ​​ As well as offering private practice, I have previously counselled at ELOP in Walthamstow, and MCPS in Ealing. I also make sure to complete regular additional training, with recent CPD covering trans awareness, ADHD and male psychology. I have also taken a foundation training in working with couple/relationship issues, gaining a professional certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy accredited by COSRT at Level 5, but please note I don't currently work with couples.

​​​

What is your background?

Before counselling I worked in journalism and charity comms, as well as in the comedy industry (not, I should note, as a comedian). 

 

I loved the chances that journalism gave me to meet people from every walk of life and hear about their lives. Sometimes I also got to help someone to make a difference,  helping them to bring about a change in government policy. It felt like a logical move to counselling: it offers a chance to work with others and see what they want to change, but at a much deeper, personal level.

 

The comedy industry provided a wonderful grounding in how people express what is going on for them in their own terms. It offered up a diversity of experience and ways of communication that I often feel surprised to find myself drawing on as a counsellor.

A photo of Andrew
bottom of page