Andrew Smith
About me
Hi, I'm Andy! I'm a counsellor with NHS experience supporting adults and younger people across Hampshire and Surrey. My approach is relaxed and informal because that's the sort of person I am. I believe that a relaxed atmosphere helps us both have the space and time to explore whatever issues or problems that need to be discussed.
I have worked with people to;
* Understand and address problems with anxiety
* Build feelings of confidence and self-esteem
* Appropriately manage stress and unhelpful behaviours
* Challenge unhelpful patterns of thinking
* Explore and understand their thoughts and feelings
* Become more motivated to achieve their goals
Each problem a person experiences is unique so I'm very happy to have a chat about how we could work together.
I possess an enhanced DBS certificate as, in addition to my private practice, I work as a Youth Counsellor in the West Surrey and North East Hampshire Youth Counselling Service. This is part of Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). I work in private practice located in Aldershot as well as The Eaves Counselling and Psychology Services in Farnham. I also offer online or telephone appointments in addition to face-to-face sessions.
While training to become a counsellor, I gained experience working with the Local Authority supporting the care needs of older adults and people with physical disabilities. I also have also worked with the local GP Federation and within integrated care teams, supporting people with complex care needs. I have also worked in business development as part of an Academic Health Science Network before finishing my training and making counselling my main vocation. In the Youth Counselling Service, I also work to support counsellors who join us for their studies and take an active role in their training and induction into the service.
I have always worked to support people through my public sector experience as this is something I am truly passionate about. Mental health is such an important, yet sometimes overlooked, facet of our lives so if you feel like you, or your child, could benefit from talking then please get in touch so we could see how we could work together.
I'll look forward to hearing from you!
Training, qualifications & experience
- MSc Psychology
- Ad Prof Dip PC - Advanced Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Level 5)
- Ad Dip PC - (Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Level 4)
- Dip PC - Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Level 3)
- Dip Hyp CS - Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Counselling Skills
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
Experience working within the NHS and Social Services.
Currently working within the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, National Counselling Society and British Psychological Society.
Full enhanced DBS certification.
Member organisations
Registered / Accredited
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
National Counselling Society
The National Counselling Society
This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.
In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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.
Accredited Register Scheme
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
Therapies offered
Further information
If you have any access requirements please discuss this when you get in touch and I will take measures to accommodate this. I do offer online or telephone appointments in addition to face-to-face sessions.
