Andy Persson MBACP
About me
Most of us face times in our lives when we feel we are struggling. When this feels overwhelming, counselling offers an opportunity to find a way through these feelings towards a more positive and fulfilling relationship with yourself.
There are a number of things that affect how we feel. Exercise and being outdoors have consistently been shown to contribute to mental wellbeing and, while on their own they are not a cure for mental distress, combining them with talking therapy can be an effective way of finding a path through difficulties. Walking or running alongside someone can be very conducive to exploring the issues you are facing within a secure, therapeutic relationship.
As a qualified counsellor and keen runner, I feel privileged to be in a position to enable people find personal growth while embracing the benefits of exercise. My approach to counselling is an integrative one, meaning I draw on knowledge of different techniques and theories of the self to guide the way I work. The process is collaborative and we would be working together to ascertain the most appropriate and useful path.
Currently sessions take place on The Downs in Bristol but I am exploring the possibility of offering other locations in the future.
During these times when safety is paramount, working outside can offer a low risk method of receiving counselling. However, if you feel uncomfortable with this, I am also able to offer online counselling and would be happy to discuss this.
How to get started
Please feel free to browse my website and either contact through there or via this site. I will then ring to arrange an initial meeting for us to assess whether I am the right counsellor for you. It is important that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you and, if after meeting you think that could be me, we would arrange a block of subsequent sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have worked in supportive roles all my life as a teacher, a community worker and volunteering with homeless people and more recently asylum seekers and refugees. As a qualified counsellor and keen advocate of the benefits of exercise, I love combining the two areas and seeing the life changes and growth people are able to make by engaging in counselling in this way.
Qualifications and training:
- FdA Counselling
- LiRF certificate in Leadership in Running Fitness
- Outdoor Therapy Training Workshop
Member organisations
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£40 for a 50 minute session
I have a limited number of concessionary places available. Please ask for details.
