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I offer sessions on Monday afternoon/evenings and Saturday mornings. I can be flexible around these times. 

Hello. My name is Andrea, and I am a qualified Child and Adolescent Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I specialise in working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing a diverse range of emotional and behavioural difficulties. These include anxiety, low mood and depression, self-harm, suicide ideation, relational conflict, loss, and neurodiversity. For me, the key to therapy is offering a safe, trusting, and confidential relationship, a space where you can feel seen, heard, and accepted without judgement. This supports a gentle exploration of challenges, a secure base from which you can know your true self and move forward.

I hold a master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapeutic Counselling from the University of Cambridge and have over 12 years' experience working in various settings including primary and secondary schools, supporting children, young people, adults, and their families who are experiencing distress. My approach is integrative using person-centred, psychodynamic, and attachment theory, CBT skills, and a thorough understanding of developmental stages. This combination is fluid and flexible and importantly allows me to ‘meet’ you where you are at. If your words feel stuck or scary to communicate, I have many creative resources and arts and play materials to support you in expressing how you are feeling. Ultimately, it’s your space, and I’ll be led by you. 

We will begin with an initial free phone consultation of around 15 minutes to discuss presenting issues and whether I am able to support. This is followed by an assessment session with parent/carer and child/young person to gain a good understanding of current challenges, the impact of past history, and an exploration of goals. The meeting is charged at the standard session rate. 

I hold a Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision (CPCAB), and my supervisory approach is founded on the seven-eyed model (Hawkins and Shohet, 2012). This means I support supervisees in considering their possible blind spots and focus on various relational dynamics at play including the client’s experience, the relationship between counsellor and client, and the inter-relational experience between us as supervisor/supervisee, as well as the wider context considering environmental factors such as social constructs, culture, difference and diversity. I am sensitive to stages of development meeting needs in terms of experience and competence, and supporting with particular client groups or themes, whether you are in training or qualified.

I am flexible to changing needs within the supervisory relationship and work creatively or in a more structured way, using educative and supportive skills as appropriate. My therapeutic modality is integrative and this weaves throughout my supervisory approach so that I am able to consider the work you bring drawing on theories such as person centred, psychodynamic, CBT, attachment and developmental. My supervisory ethos is one of containment, a non-judgemental and transparent space in which you can evolve as a therapist and recognise your needs so that you may fully access, utilise and review the support given.

I aim to find a balance of being both supportive and challenging to enhance your growth, and I commit to my own supervision and continued professional development to ensure competency. As a registered member of the Íø±¬ÃÅ I adhere to the organisation’s ethical framework. 

I supervise counsellors and psychotherapists from a wide range of training backgrounds face to face, or online. In addition to my Level 6 qualification, I hold a master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapeutic Counselling from the University of Cambridge and have many years’ experience supervising child/play therapists, drama therapists, art therapists, existential, psychodynamic, humanistic, integrative, and CBT clinicians trained in both CYP and adult work. In addition to private practice, I work as a clinical supervisor for Place2Be, I have experience running clinical skills workshops/training, and I also support therapists who are training to be supervisors.