Andy Weller

Are you stuck in a situation you don't seem to be able to change, lonely, anxious or depressed with no clear way out?

Or perhaps you have been rocked by bereavement or by the ending of a close relationship which has left you feeling lost, adrift from life with no clear sense of purpose, hopeless and alone.

Alternatively you might be experiencing sudden flashes of anger or find yourself welling up with tears which seem to come from nowhere much to the disquiet of those around you.

Feelings like this, however unpleasant or unwelcome are often experienced as part of the task of working through trauma, change or loss. It doesn't mean that you are going mad, losing control or that you will never be able to sleep properly again. Fortunately there is plenty of advice and information available, much of it freely available on line. Talking with close friends and family may help. Your GP may be able to provide other sources of help too. 

However you may find that family and friends, however well meaning are not able to  help and that you are waiting months to be allocated appropriate professional advice. Rather than wait for things to spiral out of control there is professional help available. 

As a professional counsellor, my approach is  a little different from most in that I prefer to work outdoors in natural settings. As well as providing walk and talk sessions I also work on line and by phone. The service I provide is confidential so that you can continue with your work and other commitments. I can also work straight away for short periods of time until you are able to access professional help from your GP surgery or the NHS.

I offer a free initial 30 minute phone consultation with no obligation to continue. We could work together for as little or as long as you need at a frequency of sessions that suits you. 

For walk and talk sessions we could begin from an agreed outdoor space near Chapel-le-Dale or Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales, or at an outdoor venue nearer to you. If you would prefer to work indoors I have a number of venues which we could use which are pleasant, well ventilated and have good access available no matter what your level of mobility. Alternatively we could work on line or by phone, allowing you to access counselling from the comfort of your own home. 

My outdoor counselling work is influenced by the pioneering work of therapists such as Martin Jordon (Nature and Therapy) as well as Nick Totton (Wild Therapy) and by numerous studies which show the benefits of outdoor interactions such as "ECOMINDS" and the "Natural Childhood Project" by the National Trust.

I am a qualified person-centred therapist, teacher and mountain leader. Other qualifications include an MA in outdoor education. My past experience includes over 20 years of working therapeutically with clients, both outdoors and indoors in educational and charitable sectors.  Much of this was with young people experiencing emotional difficulties in residential educational and care settings.

I am a registered member of the BACP and abide by their code of ethics.

Counselling sessions cost £40. Concessions are available too for those on low incomes.

More details are on my website at www.andyweller.co.uk

Issues around bereavement

An initial half hour consultation by phone or online is free.

All subsequent sessions cost £40 an hour and are paid for individually so that you can start and stop when it suits you.

Sessions can be weekly, every two weeks or monthly for as long as you need.

Times of sessions can be adapted to suit shift patterns. 

Concessions are available.

PHONE or ONLINE sessions enable you to access counselling from your own home at a time and place that suits you. When working OUTDOORS you will be able to experience a variety of quiet and peaceful spaces either near Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales or at a location closer to you. If you would prefer to work INDOORS, I can offer a choice of spacious, comfortable and well ventilated rooms with good access for all levels of mobility.