Andy Rushton
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm Andy, a counsellor based in North London. Welcome to my profile.
Everyone has problems in their lives. Friends and family can help, but not always. It can be difficult for you to find your own unique way through difficulties.
You may be struggling with a particular problem that is happening right now – work stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, bereavement or any number of other challenges that life brings. You may, on the other hand, have the feeling that nothing goes right and you are living a long-term pattern of similar problems.
In these situations, counselling helps you to understand yourself better and through that understanding, help you find what’s right for you.
How I Work
I am warm, kind, non-judgemental and easy to talk to. I provide a safe space where you can explore your life and your problems. I will not pathologise you, instead I work from a deep respect for you and who you are. My role is to help you to find what is right for you as an individual.
Counselling can help you learn to manage the negative feelings associated with your struggles; to recognise, understand and change self-defeating patterns, to heal past pain. It can help unlock and foster the inner strength needed to learn new ways of behaving in relationships and to deal with crises, boosting self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.
I work both short-term and long-term according to your needs and wants. We can review our work together as we go so that you and I both are clear that you are getting what you want.
First Steps
It is important to see for yourself whether you feel you can work with me, so I do not expect any commitment until we've met and had a session. During the first session, we will discuss what you want to work on and how I might help. By the end you will probably have a feeling whether we are a good fit and if you would like to continue.
Interests
I bring over 20 years’ experience to my practice. I work with any issues, because I’ve found that all issues connect with each other. However, I have developed some special interests along the way that form the core of my practice.
Counselling for Anxiety: are you feeling low and hopeless, having panic attacks, finding it hard to cope with work, life or relationships, struggling with flashbacks and nightmares about things from your past, and feeling stressed? I am trained to work with all of these issues.
Trauma-Informed Practice: I have trained to practice in a trauma-informed way, recognising the impact of childhood trauma, chronic trauma (with no identifiable trauma event) and inter-generational trauma. I understand and work with post-trauma responses such as hyper-vigilance and dissociation.
Racism and Social Justice: I have trained in Anti-Racist practice and Cultural Diversity. I work with people of all ethnicities and recognise the impact of whiteness on all aspects of life.
LGBTQIA+ and Alternative Lifestyles: I am an ally to LGBTQIA+ and I have had training with Pink Therapy who champion truly non-judgemental therapy for people with diverse sexual and gender identities, living diverse lifestyles and in diverse relationships. I understand the impact of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. I work with diverse relationships including monogamy, non-monogamy and polyamory. I work with people whose lifestyle or identity is misunderstood and subject to disapproval such as BDSM/kink, sex work or other alternative lifestyles.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an experienced counsellor and have been in practice since 2002. I am Registered and Accredited with the UKCP and hold a Diploma in Counselling.
I have worked in the NHS, in Higher Education and in Private Practice, where my experience includes working with a diverse range of clients, of differing genders, sexual orientations and identities, from all socio-economic classes, with differing national, cultural, racial and religious backgrounds.
I have helped people experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties including anxiety, depression, panic, anger management, bereavement, sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, relationship issues, family issues, affairs and betrayals, separation and divorce, self-esteem, self-harm, confidence, work-related stress and many others.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Personal Development
- Life Stages, Life Changes
- Existential Angst and Fear
- Family Issues, present and historic
- Step Families
- Gender Identity
- Sexuality
- LGBTQ+ Friendly straight male therapist
- Kink/BDSM Knowledgable
- Sex-worker friendly
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Free initial online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Concessions are available for people on low income, especially if you can make a daytime session. I also offer personal counselling to counselling students studying humanistic or person-centred counselling.
Note: I am seeing clients both in-person and by video (online) counselling, let me know which you are seeking.
When I work
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Further information
I recognise my own many privileges in society and am an ally to people who are in a disadvantaged position of ethnicity, gender, class or ability. I work with people of all sexualities, genders and gender alignments who are in diverse relationships including monogamy, non-monogamy or polyamory. I work with people whose lifestyle is misunderstood and subject to disapproval such as kinksters or sex workers. I am listed with Pink Therapy who champion truly non-judgemental therapy for people with diverse identities and in diverse relationships.
