Rob McCarthy
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I am Rob. I have been a therapist for thirty years and have worked with many people of all ages. My experience saw me working at a senior level in the NHS. The usual blurb is below, but you might want to get in touch via text, email, or call (I know how difficult this bit is) and find out how I work and if this could help. If I cannot help, I can signpost you to somewhere that does; all the best.
Rob: 07484 30 22 82
Contact me by email
People come to me suffering from a range of challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, and loss. Sometimes it is not straightforward to finds words for feelings and emotions. Using your creativity can provide a valuable outlet for reflection and understanding. Being good at art is not essential. It is a cliche, but an image can be worth a thousand words. A session can also be purely talking.
I understand how difficult making the first move towards finding a therapist can be. When you telephone or email me, I will be aware of this and put you at ease. I provide a free telephone consultation explaining how I work.
I was privileged to be given an award in 2016 for innovation in my work as a senior art psychotherapist within the NHS. I run an art therapy studio in Hereford as part of my private practice, covering online therapy and clinical supervision. I have been a therapist for twenty-six years. I am registered with HCPC and BAAT and adhere to their codes of ethics. My expertise lies in working with anxiety, depression, loss, low self-esteem, and grief—social anxiety in the wake of Covid19 being another area.
"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today." Thich Nhat Hanh
Training, qualifications & experience
Clinical Qualifications.
- Anna Freud Centre Mentalization-Based Training (2021)
- Diploma Level 6 art therapy clinical supervision (2018 to 2020)
- British Association of Art Therapists London 2018 -2019
- Post Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy now St Margaret’s University Edinburgh (1994 -1996)
Clinical Supervisor
Marches Counselling Service Hereford
Senior Art Psychotherapist
2009 - 2022 NHS Foundation Trust Adult Mental Health. Part-time.
Responsible for delivering community art psychotherapy groups and art psychotherapy to an acute psychiatric admissions ward. Responsibilities include supervising art psychotherapy trainees from the University of South Wales and clinical supervision up to Band 8 level within the NHS.
Art Psychotherapist
- 2014 - 2018: St David’s Centre Pupil Referral Service, Hereford.
Art Psychotherapist. - 1999-2000: Lothian Primary Care Trust. Adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.
Therapeutic Arts Worker. - 1998 -1999: Lothian Primary Care Trust. Adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.
Art Psychotherapist and Project Worker. - 1996-1997: Six Circle Project. Enabling ex-offenders to reintegrate into society after serving life sentences.
Art Therapy Trainee Clinical Placements - 1995-1996: Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Forensic Psychiatry and Young Persons Unit.
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 HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Prior to assessment I am happy for a telephone call, for which there is no charge.
Assessment Session £90.00 (75 to 90 minutes)
My sessional rate is £60.00 for a 50 minute session. I am able to offer reduced rates for those on low income, including trainees.
When I work
Please contact me to find out about availability.
Further information
Testimonials
Client:
"Thank you so much for your help. It helped me and supported me far more than I ever thought it could and has been a reassurance for me to get through my problems. I will definitely be recommending you to other people. Thanks."
Colleague:
"In his person and through his profession Rob reaches out with warmth, passion and empathy to all he meets- be they staff or service users. He is one of those people who really and uniquely "make a difference". He is an ambassador to his profession and a huge asset to all of us who work with him".
Information about art psychotherapy
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of expression and communication. Within this context, art is not used as diagnostic tool but as a medium to address emotional issues which may be confusing and distressing.
Although influenced by psychoanalysis, art therapists have been inspired by theories such as attachment-based psychotherapy and have developed a broad range of client-centered approaches such as psycho-educational, mindfulness and mentalization-based treatments, compassion-focused and cognitive analytic therapies, and socially engaged practice. Exploring the links between neuroscience and art therapy has also been at the forefront of some of the BAAT's conferences. Importantly, art therapy practice has evolved to reflect the cultural and social diversity of the people who engage in it.
About Art Therapy: from the British Association of Art Therapists website
