Psychotherapy
Newport (Monmouthshire) & online nationwide
MA, HCPC registered

Working together for your healing and

wholehearted living

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Hello, I'm Andrew, an Art Psychotherapist working in person with adults in Newport, and online nationwide. My experience comes from over 15 years of engagement in the fields of psychotherapy, mental health & social care, and the arts. You can contact me by sending an email using the form or details at the foot of any page on this site. 

 

On this page you will find information on

• The themes and issues that I help people to explore. 

• How to contact me.

• The type of therapy I offer. 

• My experience and background.

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Other therapy pages can be accessed from the menu at the top.

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See the 'Practical information' page for 

• Fees 

• Appointment times 

• Location

• Therapy options 

• Beginning therapy

 

'My approach to therapy' will provide a sense of what the therapy sessions are like in practice and how the process works. 'Depth Psychology' introduces some of the key elements of the work I offer.

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My therapeutic approach is focused on helping individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves, towards transformative healing and personal change. You might be going through a difficult time, looking to navigate challenges in ways that lead to new possibilities rather than repeating old patterns, longing to live more fully, or wondering about your purpose and 'big questions' in life? 

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Living a human life is complex, and involves many challenges. Often we find that contrasting thoughts and emotions are present at the same time. Or that we don't know exactly what we want, and it seems that life has come to a standstill (feeling 'stuck'). We might be pleased and content with some aspects of our life, whilst in other areas we encounter great upheaval and dissatisfaction. It is just as possible to experience conflict or a sense of disconnection within ourselves, as it is between people. 

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Psychotherapy with me offers an opportunity to explore your experiences of both inner life and the world around you in confidence, without judgment or denial. Our approach will acknowledge the importance of curiosity, compassion, and working with the 'whole person'; the suffering and success, your hopes as well as fears, strengths and struggles, both the shadow and the light. 

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​​​Who I Work With​​

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I have worked with people from a wide range of backgrounds, with very different personal histories. You might have engaged in a form of counselling or psychotherapy previously, or this could be your first such experience. 

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​It is not essential that you know exactly why you are considering seeing a psychotherapist. Initially you may have a sense that meeting would be useful, and a need for someone to listen. What brings you to therapy is something that we would come to understand together, as you begin to feel supported by the therapeutic process, which includes a feeling of trust and safety in the working alliance between us. 

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Areas Of Practice

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These are themes and concerns that I have helped clients/patients past and present to explore.

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• Experiences including (but not limited to): depression, anxiety, climate or eco anxiety, social anxiety, feeling sad, loneliness, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, bereavement, work-related stress, perfectionism, shame, trauma, mental health

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• Meaning and purpose - You may be feeling 'stuck', or finding that the life you are living does not feel fulfilling, or true to your own nature. Perhaps you feel there something preventing you from being yourself. 

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• Relationships of all kinds - Working with difficulties and finding greater depth within them. This might also include the absence of relationships. 

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• Times of change and transition - This could relate to changes in circumstances such as location, health, education, employment. More broadly, how to situate oneself within a rapdily changing external world and society.​​

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• Creativity - Exploring and harnessing the potential of imagination and expression. 

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• Spirituality -  Whether you have a particular faith, or follow other spiritual paths, it is important to integrate understanding of this important area of your life into our psychotherapeutic work. 

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• Working with men - It is well documented that men are sometimes reluctant to seek support. There can be very understandable reasons for this, and I am experienced in working with men for whom openly discussing their experience is neither familiar, nor comfortable ground.​​

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How To Contact Me

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If you would like to explore the possibility of working together, the next step is arranging to meet for an Initial Consultation. You can contact me using the form or details at the end of any page on this website. It is useful if you can let me know the main reasons why you are considering therapy, but there is no need to include any further personal details in your message. 

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If you would like to speak on the phone before arranging a consultation, I offer a free of charge 15 minute introductory call.

 

During our first meeting we will think about why you are considering therapy, how you hope it will be of benefit, and whether we would be well suited for working together. 

 

I understand that reaching out to a therapist can sometimes feel daunting, so I aim to make the process as straightforward as possible for you.

 

*I always reply within 72 hours. Please check your 'spam' folder in case the reply goes there.*

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The Type Of Therapy I Offer

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My qualification to practice is Art Psychotherapy (MA)

 

During the sessions we can work verbally, and there is also the option to use art materials. Using art materials in therapy can be a powerful way to work with deeper layers of the psyche and what cannot be expressed in words. No experience of art is required. The art image and the process of making it may serve to express something by itself, or we might explore its significance together through discussion. I do not pin a fixed 'meaning' on an image, instead my role is to help us consider it in different ways.

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In my experience it is understandable that adults often feel uncertain about using art materials at the beginning, but in the course of therapy making images often becomes a valued and transformative element. You do not need to have any particular interest in art, just a sense of curiosity and willingness to 'trust the process'.​ You can find more about this on the 'What Is Art Psychotherapy?' page.

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My specialism is in Depth Psychology 

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Depth Psychology (or Depth Psychotherapy) is an umbrella term used to describe forms of therapy that look beneath the surface of our awareness to acknowledge the significant role of unconscious life. Whilst my approach is consistently informed by recognised therapeutic traditions, the sessions are  always different according to the needs and personality of each individual. The unique working alliance between us forms a very important aspect of the therapy.

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My work is mostly influenced by the theory and practice of.. 

• Jungian therapy (including post-Jungian and Archetypal psychology)

• Psychodynamic therapy 

• Psychoanalytic therapy 

• Transpersonal psychology 

• Ecopsychology 

• Psychosynthesis 

 

Please see the Depth Psychology page for further information on these distinct yet related schools of thought. It is not essential that you understanding what each of these terms mean, but I am happy to talk in more detail or point you towards further information.

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By paying considering what may be happening in the unconscious, as well as our conscious mind, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our life experiences. Sometimes people are concerned that in looking beyond the surface we will only find all manner of horrors. Whilst it is true that an essential element of psychotherapy is coming to terms with aspects of ourselves that may feel difficult to love (shadow work, or 'what we might prefer not to know about ourselves'), the idea is that by becoming more consciously aware of the underlying factors that influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviour, we can understand and integrate what feels undesirable, confusing or frightening within ourselves, rather than suffering from it (or making others suffer it).

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Sometimes what we dislike or fear can be a kind of gold in disguise, once we get to know ourselves in a new way. This is what is meant by describing psychotherapy as transformative.

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Equally, Depth Psychotherapy is about bringing your gifts closer to the surface. We are on the lookout for joy, wonder, inspiration, beauty, and love, which can just as often be hidden away, disguised, or rejected. Being alert to these important aspects of human life and cultivating our capacity to experience and express them is also vital in the therapeutic work, as I see it. 

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We will think about your past to understand how it has influenced your present, while also moving towards the future you desire to create. We will look to find any ingrained patterns of thought and behaviour that may have developed for good reason at certain points in your life, but now hinder you.

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Depth Psychotherapy involves exploring both your inner world of thoughts, emotions, memories, and dreams, as well as your outer reality of relationships, work, circumstances, and interests. We'll also consider the broader context of your life, including cultural, environmental, spiritual, and collective influences. This holistic approach can provide new ways of seeing yourself in relation to the bigger picture of life. 

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​For further information regarding what happens during the session, see 'My approach to therapy'. 

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​About Me

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My path into working as a psychotherapist was shaped by my own positive experiences of Depth Psychotherapy, combined with a lifelong passion for creativity, spirituality, and Nature. I've found this field to be incredibly broad and inspiring, encouraging curiosity about the mysteries of life and the potential for growth through human connection.

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Through my work in mental health and social care services, as well as my own artistic endeavors, I've gained a developed understanding of both therapeutic and creative processes. I believe that these two aspects are interconnected and can work together to support personal growth and healing.

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In our therapy sessions we'll work deeply with serious topics, whilst also recognising the benefits of keeping humour and lightheartedness close at hand.

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Education / Qualifications

& Professional Experience​​

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MA Art Psychotherapy, Goldsmiths College, University of London (2010 - 2013)

 

Ba(Hons) Fine Art: Contemporary Media, University of South Wales (2005 - 2008)

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I am a current student of Transformational Mentoring: A Psychosynthesis Coaching Training - With M.Jones and K.Hackwood (2024 - present)

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The Art Psychotherapy training I undertook was an immersive three year course, with an emphasis on a Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic theoretical model, specialising in working with creative processes within the therapy session. 

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Before beginning a private practice I gained over a decade of professional experience from diverse roles in mental health and social care services. Prior to and during Art Psychotherapy training I worked in adult psychiatric services within the NHS. Following qualification I worked at an NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, and later in a management and supervisory role within a local authority accommodation for young adults. Other employment has included a third sector mental health setting, and with people who have Learning Disabilities. 

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My experience as an artist provides me with first-hand knowledge of creative processes, which then aids and informs my work with people in the therapy session. I am an elected Professional Member of the Society Of Scottish Artists, and continue to exhibit my paintings and drawings regularly.​​​​

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