ABOUT ME - ANDREW ELLIS, MA, MBACP

Welcome to the "About Me" section. Here, I aim to provide you with a snapshot of me as an individual and who I am in the various roles that I work in.

I hope this glimpse into my beliefs, values, and modalities of working will help you to determine if you believe we could work well together.

I am a husband to my wonderful wife and a proud father of two incredible young children. In our household, we share our lives with Bear (pictured right), a Labradoodle whose endearing personality comes with a fondness for occasionally indulging in the consumption of socks.

I have had personal experience of accessing counselling so am aware of how scary it can be to initially reach out. There have been periods in my past where life seemed to veer off course, where I have grappled with a sense of personal inadequacy and anxiety. My own experience of counselling has led me to recognise the transformative power of therapy and the value of voicing thoughts out loud.

My positive encounter with personal therapy inspired me to embark on a new path—training as a therapist, couples therapist & supervisor. My desire is to facilitate this experience to those seeking a similar transformative change.

I am a firm believer that every individual is capable of taking positive steps in their lives; however, this may not always be an easy task to undertake. Navigating a unique journey, encountering fears, worries, and complexities is challenging to do alone. At times, we all need a helping hand.

As a therapist, it is my privilege to support others in navigating and overcoming these challenges. Whether individuals are seeking a safe space to share their thoughts, wanting to understand what is going on for them, aiming to make active changes to their immediate situation, or maintaining progress toward overarching goals, I am committed to providing tailored guidance.

My core counselling training was in the 5-step integrative model (Clarkson), providing a framework to employ various psychological modalities tailored to meet each client's specific needs. This forms the underpinning of my work, and I have since completed my Masters Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, further enhancing my theoretical knowledge base.

I believe that every relationship holds the potential for growth and healing as long as both parties are actively invested in bringing about a change. I strive to create a safe and supportive environment where couples can explore their emotions, communicate effectively, and foster deeper connections.

In my role, I am not looking to cast judgments or blame on any party. My role within this setting is to keep a focus on the relationship with the aim of helping you both work through conflict in a non-damaging way, working towards gaining insight and understanding of each other.

I hold an Accredited Diploma in Relationship Counselling. This training has a foundation rooted in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a modality that emphasises the importance of emotional connection and attachment in relationships. By helping couples identify and address underlying emotional patterns, we can work together to rebuild trust, improve communication, and create a more fulfilling relationship.

In my role as a counselling supervisor, I approach supervision with a collaborative mindset, emphasising support and a conducive learning atmosphere for my supervisee's. With a background of working in addiction, I bring a practical understanding of working within an organisation as well as working in private practice.

My supervisory approach is characterised by empathy, constructive feedback, and a genuine concern for the well-being of those I supervise. I aim to create a space where supervisees feel encouraged to explore their clinical skills, navigate case work, and reflect on their professional journey. Through ongoing dialogue and a strengths-based perspective, I seek to build a supervisory relationship that addresses challenges while acknowledging and celebrating successes, contributing to the ongoing growth of my supervisee's in their counselling practice.

I hold an Advanced Diploma in Counselling Supervision and I employ the Hawkins and Shohet's seven-eyed model in my supervisory practice. This comprehensive approach underscores the importance of practitioner growth and development, providing a structured framework for examining the therapeutic process, enhancing self-awareness, and refining clinical skills within a supportive and reflective context.