Andrew Phillips

Hello, I'm Andrew, an experienced HCPC registered Psychotherapist working online with adults across the UK.

I offer a reflective, depth-oriented approach for those who want to engage more fully with their experience of life, and find a way of living that feels more meaningful and true to who they are.

My website offers further information on all areas of my practice, and you’re very welcome to get in touch with any questions.

Welcome

I offer a space where we can begin with wherever you find yourself, taking time to explore your experience with care, honesty, and attention. You may have a sense that something in your life is asking for attention, even if it’s not yet clear what that is.

People often come to therapy because something feels difficult - perhaps anxiety, low mood, uncertainty, or a sense of being stuck - but I prefer not to view these kinds of experiences simply as problems to be solved.

My approach is about engaging with the whole of your life. This includes not only challenge and struggle, but also creativity, meaning, relationship, and a sense of something deeper that may be trying to emerge. At times this might feel like putting words or images to something you’ve sensed for a long time, but not yet been able to fully articulate.

Our work may touch on questions of purpose, direction, or spirituality, where these feel relevant to you. 

How to contact me 

I understand that it requires courage to take the first step.

You’re welcome to get in touch with a few words about what’s bringing you to therapy, there’s no need to include personal or sensitive details at this stage. There’s no pressure to commit to anything beyond an initial conversation, which is to find out whether we would be well suited for working together (75 minutes, the standard fee applies).

Unless on leave I will respond within 48 hours.

Please check your 'spam' folder, as sometimes replies are filtered.  

Reasons for coming to therapy 

You don’t need to have a clear explanation of what’s wrong before getting in touch. Sometimes it’s hard to put into words why you’re considering therapy, and that’s something we can think about together.

You might be experiencing:

• Anxiety, low mood, or a sense of unease
• Feeling stuck, lost, or unsure of direction
• Difficulties in relationships
• Low self-esteem or self-confidence
• Perfectionism, shame, or work-related stress
• Questions of identity, meaning, or purpose
• Creative blocks or struggles with your work
• Periods of transition, including midlife
• A sense of not fitting in or feeling disconnected

Or there may simply be a sense that something isn't quite right. 

Potential benefits of psychotherapy

You may recognise a personal version of these within your own life, and how they might relate to the reasons for coming to therapy mentioned above.

• Uncover and break free from limiting old patterns that no longer serve you.
• Develop new ways of being that support your growth.
• A greater understanding of yourself in relation to others.
• Exploring your spiritual life in a grounded way without bypassing the psychological.
• More confidence to express yourself in all aspects of life. 
• Being in touch with your creativity.
• Experience how dreams and imagination can offer insight and inspiration.

A sense of safety in the therapeutic process

The relationship (or 'alliance') between client and therapist is a unique one, and we will give careful attention to this throughout. We work within agreed boundaries to establish a connection that feels safe, allowing you to trust me with what might feel deeply personal.

As with any human relationship, it would not be natural to trust someone entirely when you first meet them, even if you know a few details about them. I view 'safety' as something we develop together over time, rather than simply how you are supposed to feel in therapy because I've described it that way. This means we will explore what helps you to feel safe, and what might lead to feeling unsafe. We also acknowledge that, to feel safe doesn't mean that there won't also be a necessary sense of risk at times, if therapy is be meaningful and effective. 

By reflecting upon the relationship between us and how you engage with the therapy, we have an opportunity to learn about established patterns of relating and responding within yourself, and also to other people and situations.

The type of therapy I offer

My approach is primarily informed by Depth Psychology, which is a collective term for therapies that consider both conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind. These include Jungian, Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic, Transpersonal (meaning spiritual, or connecting with a sense of something greater than the individual self). My qualification in Art Psychotherapy means that there is also the possibility for you to make images during the therapy session, which can allow for a more thorough exploration of experiences beyond words alone.

We could think of depth-oriented therapy as a movement from being aware of ripples on the surface, to realising that the ripples haven't caused themselves, and are not the full story. This doesn't mean we ignore the events and experiences that are noticeable on the surface, but develop a new appreciation for them as meaningful guides towards a richer understanding of how you experience yourself, other people, and the world in which you live.



What happens during the therapy sessions?

Whilst the therapy is held by an established 'frame' of boundaries and best practice, what happens during the session is largely up to each individual. We go at a pace that feels manageable for you. The therapy is your time and space to consider whatever you wish to, at your own pace. There are no set exercises during the sessions or homework afterwards.

Sometimes there may be a 'back and forth' flow like conversation, and at other times you will be mostly talking or making images, and I will be listening and witnessing. Whilst we will both be mindful of key themes and any established aims for the therapy, each session does not have to begin where the previous one finished. This allows you to experience both the therapy and yourself in ways that are familiar and new at each session. 



Will this kind of therapy suit you?

Psychotherapy can be both challenging and rewarding. There may be moments of insight, alongside the slower work of integrating change.

This approach may suit you if:

• You are coming to this way of working after finding that more structured or solution-focused approaches haven’t quite reached what you were hoping for.
• You are interested in exploring your inner life more freely
• You are drawn to creativity, imagination, or the psychological meaning of experience
• I also have particular experience working with artists and creative professionals, though this is not essential.

Men for whom talking about inner experience is unfamiliar are equally welcome.

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Beginning therapy

At our initial meeting we’ll explore what brings you to therapy, how you hope it could help, and whether we are likely to work well together. Therapy can begin if we both feel it could be beneficial. 

Following the initial consultation, I suggest beginning with three sessions, allowing some time to get a sense of the work and how it feels for you. 

Therapy options and practical information

See below for fees and appointment times.

• Weekly therapy (1 hour)
• Fortnightly therapy (1 hour)
• Monthly consultation: 1.5 hour session based on a specific theme of your choosing. There is less emphasis on the therapeutic process and relationship, for those seeking an infrequent reflective space for explorative conversation. 
  
  
• Open-ended: Having no set number of sessions or end date allows for working in greater depth over time. I usually work with people beyond 6 months. 
• Short-term: Between 4 - 12 sessions. The therapy is naturally more defined in its scope. 
•  All sessions are currently held online using Google Meet.
• A 48 hour cancellation policy applies to all sessions.

• Therapy Sessions 1 hour - £65
• The initial consultation is 75 minutes, and the regular fee applies. 
• Monthly consultations £90 (1.5 hours)

Professional practice 
I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulatory body for Art Psychotherapists in the UK, and I adhere to their standards of conduct, ethics, and professional practice.

I engage in regular clinical supervision and hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

I only begin work with a new client where I feel my knowledge, skills, and experience are well suited to what they are seeking support with.

What is Art Psychotherapy?
It’s understandable that some people feel uncertain about a therapy with “Art” in the name.

Art Psychotherapy is a form of psychological therapy that works in depth with thoughts, feelings, and experience, sometimes through words, and sometimes through image-making where this feels helpful.

Training in Art Psychotherapy is at Masters level and includes extensive clinical placements, alongside ongoing personal therapy during the course of training.

“Art Psychotherapist” and “Art Therapist” are protected titles in the UK, and require registration with the HCPC.

If you choose to work with images in sessions, they are not judged in terms of artistic skill. They are a way of expressing and exploring experience, and any meaning emerges through reflecting on them together within the therapy.

Art Psychotherapy is not an art lesson or a set of activities, but another way of engaging with the therapeutic process.

You can find more about my approach, including how I work with depth psychology and creativity, on my website.