Clinical Supervision
About Me
Andrew works full-time as accredited therapist and supervisor (MIACP), based at Mind and Body Works. He was born and grew up near Belfast, and his first degree was in Music, a lifelong passion. As a young adult, he then gained significant life experience providing pastoral and emotional support for the seriously ill, the dying and bereaved families, in two Dublin hospitals. He later studied arts management and worked as a producer in theatre, music, opera and dance for more than a decade before qualifying as a therapist in 2012. Having trained and performed as a classical musician to a high level as a young person, he recently returned to playing the ‘cello after a gap of some 20 years. His other interests include horticulture, literature, film, history, science, astronomy, and current affairs. He enjoys escaping from the city to Ireland’s natural wild places in his spare time and is an enthusiastic hillwalker, cyclist and swimmer.
My Supervision Model
Andrew views supervision as a collaborative process and a formal working relationship within which a supervisee reflects on and discusses their client work, on a regular basis. It is a dynamic learning and development environment, in which both parties learn and grow together. His approach to supervision is humanistic and integrative – an integration of the Relational Gestalt and Cyclical Models (Page & Wosket). See also My Areas of Interest (below). He seeks to co-create supervisory relationships of genuine transparency, trust, dialogue and mutuality, in which practitioners may find space for embodied reflection, exploration and challenge, to support their work, development - including the business aspects of a private practice - and fulfilment of the many other ethical and legal requirements of our profession.
A former lecturer in counselling ethics, Andrew places high importance on our responsibility as practitioners to approach ethical dilemmas with seriousness and courage, guided by the professional bodies as we monitor our work through supervision to ensure competence, effectiveness, ethical and professional standards and our lifelong development.
My Experience as Supervisor, Counsellor, Therapist
As supervisor, Andrew has been qualified and accredited since Nov 2020, and supervises pre-accredited and recently accredited, as well as very experienced therapists, and supervisors.
He has a wide range of counselling/psychotherapy experience gained in private practice, having worked alongside a team of GPs at a busy Dublin medical centre from 2011 to 2018, before establishing his practice at Mind and Body Works. His therapeutic work with adults aged 18 to 70+ includes clients experiencing a wide range of issues (see the About page on this website for details).
When working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients (18+) and supervisees, Andrew works within an affirmative framework. This means that he seeks to co-create a safe space, in which LGBTQ+ people may gain greater understanding and acceptance of their own unique identity.
In recent years, he has developed a strong professional interest in the neurodiversity perspective and neurodiversity movement in psychology and sociology. This involves a shift away from regarding naturally occurring neuro-developmental variations in humans (what we know as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc.) as medical disorders (a model which focuses on diagnosing perceived deficits and ‘disabilities’) and towards an approach which encourages those who differ from a supposed ‘normal’ to develop their strengths (in some cases, giftedness), and to find ways to support themselves around their diverse internal and interpersonal / relational challenges (strengths-based model).
In addition to his private practice, Andrew was involved in the training of therapists for a number of years, as a lecturer and group therapist.
My Training & Qualifications
Andrew holds a Diploma and BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy (first class) from PCI College & Middlesex University. His training since qualifying includes a Diploma in Relational Gestalt Supervision (2 years) and Diploma in Relational Gestalt Therapy (2 years) from Dublin Gestalt Centre, and two years’ training in Somatic Trauma Therapy with US practitioner and author Babette Rothschild. His practice is also informed by the more humanistic among the psychodynamic theorists (including Bowlby, Winnicott) and by a keen interest in how therapists and their clients can benefit from scientific advances in understanding the brain and nervous system (Somatic Trauma Therapy, insights from the Sensorimotor approach). His continuing professional development has focused on informing himself and renewing skills around many aspects of human diversity: Autism Informed Therapy (Eoin Stephens); many webinars and conferences on Neurodiversity, especially modern understandings of autism and ADHD; Individual Gestalt Therapy and Gestalt Couples Therapy (GATLA); Working with Gender Identity and Working with Parents of Gender Dysphoric Children & Adolescents (Pink Therapy, London). Andrew is currently (2022/23) part of the first cohort of trainees on the IACP accredited Practitioner Certificate in Working with Autistic Adults (Ausome Training, Eoin Stephens, Evaleen Whelton).
My Membership of Professional Associations
Andrew is accredited as therapist and supervisor by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). In line with the ethical codes of his professional body, he completes further training each year, and attends weekly clinical supervision as well as regular group peer supervision and his own personal therapy.
My Areas of Interest in Supervision
The foundation of Andrew's supervision work is the Relational Gestalt approach which has three main elements: field theory (with an emphasis on awareness of the relational fields of client, supervisee and supervisor); embodied phenomenological exploration (moment to moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, sensations, in the supervision session); and the co-creation of a transparent and congruent dialogical relationship between supervisor and supervisee (modelling and supporting the supervisee in the co-creation of healthy, authentic working relationships with their clients). Andrew finds that the Cyclical Model (Page & Wosket) integrates well with this approach, and supports working with supervisees to: structure and focus each supervision session, ‘sharpen the figure’ (selecting one theme, therapeutic, professional or ethical, or an individual client issue); and to integrate new awareness which they can bring back into their work, supporting their ongoing development as practitioners. Part of congruence and transparency, for Andrew, is to risk bringing into the supervisory space, at times, not only his immediate experience of the supervisee, but also relevant aspects of his professional experience or knowledge, if these come into awareness during a session.
In addition to previous training on gender and sexual diversity, Andrew has gained knowledge about the neurodiversity perspective, particularly in relation to the mental health difficulties which often arise for autistic adults (whether diagnosed, self-identified, or neither), and for those who experience traits of what is described in the medical model as ADHD. As an enthusiastic advocate for equality, diversity, self-awareness and lifelong learning, Andrew is always happy to share his insights into this widely misunderstood area of our field with interested supervisees, and to learn from them.
What times are available?
Sessions take place Monday to Friday, 8am to 3pm. Andrew does not see clients or supervisees in the evenings or at the weekend.
Is it possible to book online?
Before scheduling an exploratory session, it is necessary to have a brief telephone conversation to determine if it seems likely supervision with Andrew would be a good fit for you at this time. If you would like Andrew to call you, please use the contact form.
Do you supervise child and adolescent counselling?
No. Child and adolescent counselling and therapy is a specialist area requiring specific training. Andrew supervises therapists' work with adult clients only and does not supervise therapists' work with clients under the age of 18 years.
Can I pay by card?
Andrew has an online payment policy (via bank transfer or Revolut for Business (IBAN on request), and payment is required a minimum of 24hrs before the session. Receipts are issued for all payments. VAT invoices available on request.
Are you GDPR compliant?
Yes. You may read Andrew'sPrivacy Policy here.
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