Psychotherapy
with soul & depth
Online video sessions, wherever you are located in the UK
MA, registered with the HCPC
A Place to Begin
Hello, I'm Andrew, a Psychotherapist working with individual adults online. All that you'll need is a quiet and private space, stable internet connection, and a device with a camera (computer or ipad is preferable to mobile).
My experience comes from over 15 years of varied roles in mental health / social care services (including NHS), and running a private psychotherapy practice, which until recently has been mostly in person. I am also a visual artist, which informs my thinking about the deep relationship between creative processes and human experience.
This page provides an overview, including the issues and themes I help people to explore, the possible benefits of therapy, and some practical details about getting started. You can find focussed information throughout the other pages.
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I offer 'open-ended' therapy for those seeking more in-depth work over time, or brief therapy if you are looking for a few sessions to look at a particular concern or aspect of your life.
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Contacting me - Finding a suitable therapist is not always easy, especially with so many options available. I invite you to send me a message if you would like to arrange an initial consultation, or simply have any questions. If you would prefer a brief phone call to discuss first, I am happy to offer this free of charge.
You can reach me via the contact form or email at the foot of any page on this website. Unless on leave I always respond within 48 hours.
*Please check your 'spam' as sometimes replies are filtered*.
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Welcome to my Psychotherapy practice
Thank you for visiting. I have decided not to 'brand' my therapy practice by giving it a name, because I feel it's really important that you have the sense of meeting a person first and foremost, rather than a service or business. This might not be the best idea from a marketing perspective, but I see it as an attempt to make an honest human-to-human connection, which in my view is what Psychotherapy is all about.
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​The origins of the word psychotherapy meant to 'care for the soul'. We could think of soul from a spiritual perspective, or as the deepest aspect of who we are as individuals. It can also stand for particular qualities, such as when a person, work of art, or maybe a place is described as "soulful," or even "soulless." At its essence, therapy with me is not about being more like other people (or more like your therapist!), its purpose is to nurture the lifelong process of becoming who you are, or being true to your own deepest nature.
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The type of therapy I offer draws mainly from a group of well known and researched approaches to psychological healing and self-discovery, broadly defined as Depth Psychology. This is about paying careful attention to what you are aware of on the surface of your experience (which could be a behaviour, thoughts, emotions) in order to explore and address the underlying influences. When we can find personal meaning in whatever situation life presents us with, we begin to understand ourselves and the world around us in new ways. This knowledge can then be put to use in transforming how we experience life. ​​​​​​
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I am a qualified Art Psychotherapist (MA), registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and abide by their standards of conduct, performance, and ethics. It's understandable that some people will be uncertain about a therapy with 'Art' in the name, however it is an established profession in the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy, which has much in common with many more familiar types of psychological therapy.
In the sessions we can work verbally, and there is the added benefit of being able to use art materials if you wish to. The themes and direction of each session are shaped by you, and the therapy is tailored to the needs of each individual.
Art Psychotherapy should not be confused with; an art lesson, art activities, or a distraction exercise.
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See the 'What Is Art Psychotherapy?' page for further information on the benefits of this approach.
Reasons for Beginning Therapy
At the beginning you may find it isn't easy to describe what brings you to therapy. This usually becomes clearer once we have established a safe and trusting connection, and begin to explore the main themes together. Sometimes it can take a little while to get to the real reason why someone is in therapy. The initial aim is for us to be working towards a shared understanding about how you hope therapy could benefit you.
Here are some of the key themes that I can help you to explore.
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A sense that something is holding you back from being the person you could be, or living the life you want.
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Feeling worn out or confused by emotions, thoughts, or a difficult situation.
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Seeking purpose and meaning in life, or wondering "who am I, really?"
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Lacking a sense of belonging, feeling that you don't 'fit in', or that others don't understand you.
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Experiencing difficulties with relationships (of any kind), and wanting greater connection within them.
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You find yourself at a crossroads, or in a time of transition and uncertainty.
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You need a space to talk about your experience of spirituality or explore this aspect of life.
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Love and loss in relation to environment and Nature
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Struggling with 'blocks' or lack of motivation in your own creative work.
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Facing the 'crisis' of mid-life
What are the potential benefits of psychotherapy?
These are some of the kinds of changes it is possible to work towards.
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Develop new ways of being that are in tune with what you really want, and support your growth.
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Uncover and break free from limiting old patterns that no longer serve you.
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Understand yourself on a deeper level, including how unconscious desires, fears, and conflicts influence your emotions, thoughts, and behavior.
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A more developed understanding of yourself in relation to others.
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Greater confidence to express yourself more fully in all aspects of life.
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Get in touch with your creativity in the broadest sense of the word, and nurture what inspires you.
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Experience how dreams and imagination can offer insight.
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Realise talents, strengths, ambitions that you have had to keep hidden, or were not recognised by others.​​
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Explore your spiritual life in a grounded way without bypassing the psychological.
What might be making it difficult to come to therapy?
I mention these examples to let you know I understand there can be many reasons why someone would be hesitant about beginning therapy. If you experience any of these, or other similar examples, I encourage you to let me know. It doesn't necessarily mean we can't work together or that therapy isn't for you. In fact, worries of this kind can be a worthy starting point, and often prove very valuable to explore.
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I feel embarrassed to talk about it.
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My problems aren't serious enough.
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My problems cannot be understood.
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It's too late to change.
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It will make me/the situation worse.
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Therapy is for 'other people'.​
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I don't deserve the attention.
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I am afraid of the attention.​​
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The therapist will tell me what to do.
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The therapist won't say anything.
Who I work with
Psychotherapy can sometimes feel challenging, as well as rewarding. There will be 'lightbulb' moments of insight, followed by the work of turning new understanding into genuine change. We enter into this process together, and I accompany you on the journey. The relationship (or 'alliance') between client and therapist is a unique one, and we will give careful attention to this throughout, always remaining within appropriate boundaries.
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I believe therapy with a sense of depth needs to feel different from meeting for a chat, but also that it can be very valuable for both client and therapist to allow a sense of humour into the sessions when appropriate.
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Throughout my 15+ years of experience in this field, I have worked with people from a wide range of backgrounds, with very different life stories.
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This could be your first time in therapy, or you may have had prior experience.
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It is important we are a 'good fit' for working together, but this doesn't mean we need to share a worldview.
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I have a particular interest providing psychotherapy for artists and creatives.
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Often, the people who find me have an active spiritual impulse in their lives, or feel deeply connected to Nature.
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Men for whom talking about the inner life is neither familiar nor comfortable ground, you are very welcome to get in touch.
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This form of psychotherapy is best suited to those who are interested in a more explorative approach, and are willing to reflect upon their experience with a sense of curiosity. Each meeting offers you the time and space to consider whatever you wish to, at your own pace. There are no exercises during the sessions or homework afterwards.
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In a practical sense, clients will need to communicate efficiently by email for planning purposes, and commit to paying for sessions as arranged, in accordance with a 48 hour cancellation policy.
Sessions and Fees
I offer two basic options of meeting weekly, or twice per month.
All sessions are 1 hour.
Monthly appointments of 90 minutes provide an opportunity to explore certain themes, but should be considered a consultation, rather than therapeutic process. See the link below for details.
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How long we work together for is always your choice, and I can help you think about this decision.
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Short-term basis of 4 to 12 sessions decided upon at the outset.
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Open-ended with no fixed end date for longer-term work in greater depth.
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​​Fees
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The standard fee is £65 per 1 hour session.
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Monthly consultations are £90 per 90 minute session.
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What to expect first
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Whichever options you are considering, we meet first for an initial consultation (up to 75 minutes, £65). This is an opportunity to explore what brings you to therapy, how you would like therapy to be beneficial, and whether we are likely to work well together. There is no obligation to begin therapy, or make a decision about it during the meeting.
If you would like to speak on the phone prior to arranging a consultation I can offer a free introductory call.
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👉 Please visit this page for full details about my appointments schedule, session options, and beginning therapy.
About my Background & Qualifications
I qualified as an Art Psychotherapist in 2013, after completing the Masters level training at Goldsmiths College, London. This is an immersive 3 year course, based upon a psychodynamic model. My path to becoming a therapist developed over many years of interest and research in considering human life from different perspectives, and my own positive experience of being a client in psychotherapy.
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👉 See the About Me page for further information on my experience.
Explore Further
These links are also accessible from the therapy pages menu at the top.​​
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Sessions, fees, and how therapy begins.
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What to expect from the sessions and therapeutic relationship.
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My background, professional experience and qualifications.
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The schools of thought that underpin my work.
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Introduction to the profession and working with creative processes in therapy.
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Therapy from a location convenient for you.
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A holistic approach to therapy and being in the world.
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For deeper reflections on creativity, psyche, and healing.
You're Welcome to Get in Touch
​​To contact me please use the email address or contact form below (also at the foot of any page on this website).
It is useful to include some general background about what brings you to therapy, but there is no need to include personal information.
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I always respond to enquiries within 48 hours (unless on leave). If you do not see a reply please check your 'spam' folder, and contact me again if necessary.
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I am registered with the HCPC, and listed on the Counselling Directory, and Psychology Today.
