© 2025 Andrew Harris Counselling

I am a Registered Counsellor & Psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) – you can find details of my registration on the BACP Register – my registration number is 408298. If you would like to learn more about my qualifications please read on using the qualifications drop down arrow.

The key to any therapeutic work lies within the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client; to that end I offer a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space for my clients. My aim, as a therapeutic professional, is to work collaboratively with my clients to build a trusting and caring environment and one within which a client can grow and explore in the way that they want. I work within Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Gestalt modalities (you can read more about these approaches here). My way of working is in a non-directive and relational way with my clients at the centre of my practice.

I have worked with clients in stroke services, low cost counselling services and have extensive experience of working within CAMHS & the NHS. I am comfortable working with clients from diverse & wide ranging backgrounds; including:

• Ethnic minority
• Multi-cultural
• Neuro-divergent
• LGBTQ+
• Individuals identifying as having a disability or illness

When it comes to my practice I have a particular interest in bereavement, loss, anxiety, OCD, depression, low mood and adaptation to a change in unexpected circumstances – that being said, I also have an interest in all presentations and with all people.

I am an integrative Counsellor meaning that I work within different therapeutic approaches and am able to draw upon their different styles during our work. The three approaches I practice in are:

1. Person-Centred
2. Psychodynamic
3. Gestalt
4. Transactional Analysis (TA)

You can read more about these three approaches here.

I offer in person counselling sessions at my home address in my counselling room within the BS30 postcode of Bristol. I equally work both online and over the telephone and can cater to your needs. These ways of offering counselling provide different opportunities and options in therapy and, as such, can be used in a combination to suit you; for example a mix of online/telephone/in-person sessions in a hybrid way.

My journey into Counselling started when I was 16 years old and picking my A-Level subjects. Not really knowing about what I wanted to do at that age career wise I picked my A-Level choices only for the four subjects to clash. The result was that I had to pick a fourth from a list of ten other subjects. All of the subjects on the list were of little interest to me; the only one that stood out was Psychology. I knew very little about Psychology other than it concerned the mind and the way that people think – I was also a big fan of the TV show Frasier and if you have seen it you will know just how Psychology is at the forefront of that show.

Taking a punt on Psychology, it immediately became my favourite subject, my biggest passion and the rest, you could say, is history…

Getting into University at the third attempt I began my three year Psychology degree at UWE Bristol before graduating successfully. Within the degree my favourite modules were Clinical Psychology, Sport Psychology, Addiction, and Counselling. I also led a research dissertation looking into the effects of different music genres on driving performance which involved a high-spec driving simulator.

When I finished my degree, I wanted to go into the field of mental health (most especially Counselling & Psychotherapy), but the path, even after three years of studying, felt a long one to commit to at that time. Having been a student, I was keen to start earning some money and moving my life forward. I looked at careers that would involve using similar skillsets to Counselling – listening, working collaboratively, and helping other people amongst other things. With a few family friends within the education profession to confide in, I decided to start a PGCE teacher training course with primary school aged children with the ambition of becoming a qualified teacher within a year. Within one hour of starting the course I knew that my heart was set on Counselling and Counselling was where I wanted my future to be. Speaking with the careers team at Bath Spa University they put me in touch with the Counselling course team at UWE Bristol and I successfully enrolled for the following year…

Completing my one year Counselling Certificate with UWE Bristol I undertook modules in Person-Centred and Psychodynamic counselling. I was unsuccessful in my first attempt at getting onto a highly competitive Masters course. Getting onto the course at the second attempt I completed my three year Masters level training within Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Gestalt therapies with a Distinction grade. As part of Counselling training at a Master’s level you have to undertake personal therapy for yourself – I have accrued over 100 hours of personal therapy with registered Counsellors as part of my training and ongoing development. I also needed clinical experience from two placements (details below) and to conduct a research project. I conducted a Reflexive Thematic Analysis into how therapists use their own personal experiences and wounds within their practice and how this has impacted student Counsellor’s in their journey to become a therapist.

My placements as part of my training came from three areas in unpaid roles: Age UK, Bristol After Stroke and a low cost counselling service.

I have been volunteering with Age UK for over seven years now. Age UK is a charity which provides support for the elderly. I have been meeting with clients of Age UK on a weekly basis. One service user, in particular, has been a client of mine for over all of those seven years. This work has been incredibly rewarding and has afforded me the opportunity to engage with vulnerable clients on a medium-long term basis.

I previously worked as a counsellor at Bristol After Stroke (BAS) supporting stroke affected clients/patients at varying points in their recovery journeys. My role with BAS involved meeting with clients on a weekly basis in their homes and offering hour long counselling sessions in a short term six session format. Working with this client group meant working with patients with individual care plans and with differing cognitive & neurological capacities post-stroke.

I have also worked as a Counsellor with a low cost counselling service working with self-referring clients on a weekly basis. Clients had counselling sessions with me in an open-ended and long term format. I have additionally worked with clients in virtual, online and telephone sessions within this organisation. I have worked with clients for as many as thirty sessions over a year long period.

Alongside my academic training I have been working in a paid capacity in a local Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) within the NHS for seven years. As part of my role I have accrued extensive knowledge of the child & adolescent mental health pathways, services and terminology. I have worked closely with a wide ranging clinical team including: Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Family Therapists, Mental Health Practitioners, Mental Health Nurses and Primary Mental Health Specialists.

• I am a Registered Counsellor & Psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) – you can find details of my registration on the BACP Register – my registration number is 408298. If you would like to learn more about my qualifications please read on using the qualifications drop down arrow.
  
  
• Level 7 Masters in Counselling & Psychotherapy from UWE Bristol – Distinction

• Certificate in Counselling Skills from UWE Bristol

• BSc Psychology Undergraduate Degree from UWE Bristol

• Placements with Bristol After Stroke, a low cost Counselling service & Age UK

• Over 100 hours of personal Counselling therapy as part of Masters training

• Samaritans – Listening Skills & Emotional Health training

• Enhanced DBS Certificate – certificate number 001918145568

• Member of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – registration number ZB873036

• Fully insured in private practice with professional liability insurance

• Ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as part of my BACP registration