Andrew Mickel: Brixton
About the Therapist
What would you like to talk about today? It’s a common enough starting point in counselling sessions, but it is rarely a question with an easy answer.
I’m a BACP-registered counsellor, and I work with people to explore their feelings, thoughts and behaviours to see how they want to respond to challenges in life.
People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons. Some clients use sessions to make sense of events in their past, the impact on them now, and perhaps to look at where they want to go next.
Others may find they’re living their lives based on old ideas of themselves, perhaps editing themselves to a version that feels palatable to others, but are unsure how to change.
And for some, there might not even be clarity on what is going on for them - but they know something is amiss or stuck in their lives and relationships. Depressed feelings, stress and anxious thoughts are often part of the picture too.
Whatever is going on for you, I offer sessions at London Bridge (SE1), Brixton (SW9) and via Google Meet, and offer a free half-hour initial appointment to discuss how we could work together.
- Gay
- Queer
- Five years' experience as a counsellor
- Diploma/ BSc in Humanistic Counselling from the well-respected Metanoia Institute
- A foundation training in working with couple/relationship issues, gaining a professional certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy accredited by COSRT at Level 5, but please note I don't currently work with couples
- Registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Fully insured and work to BACP's supervision requirements
- Undergo regular CPD to keep my skills up to date
I have worked with a wide variety of groups. That includes a specialism working with people who identify as LGBT+, many of whom have previously struggled to find a non-judgemental counsellor who they felt comfortable sharing with.
As well as offering private practice, I have also previously counselled at ELOP in Walthamstow and MCPS in Ealing.
I also draw on my own background and training to inform how we work. Before counselling I worked in journalism and charity comms, as well as in the comedy industry (not, I should note, as a comedian). Journalism introduced me to a wide breadth of people, and the move to counselling felt logical: it offers a chance to work with others and see what they want to change, but at a much deeper, personal level. The comedy industry offered up a diversity of experience and ways of communication that I often feel surprised to find myself drawing on as a counsellor.
My approach can be boiled down to three words: change through insight.
My approach is fundamentally optimistic and non-judgemental, helping you to work with your own resources and strengths to manage the issues you face.
Starting counselling can be intimidating. It’s very common to think that other people’s problems are more important than yours, or that a lack of clarity on what’s going on makes it hard to know where to start. It’s something I’m used to working with, and we can take a look at together.
And while some clients are well-versed in working with their emotions, for many others - especially for people who are good at thinking their way through problems - we might need to take a few beats to explore what their feelings look like.
To get started, just call or email me to arrange a free half-hour initial meeting. We'll discuss what it is you want from therapy, get to know each other and can look at setting up regular sessions from there. You can find out more about my working style at www.andrewmickel.co.uk, or get in touch via SMS/ WhatsApp on 07428 338931.
- Gestalt
- Humanistic
- Integrative
- Person-Centred
- Transactional Analysis
- Bi- | Pansexual
- Gay
- Lesbian
- Non-binary | Genderqueer
- Queer
- Questioning
- Trans
- One to one
- No adaptation
- Adults
- Online
- In Person
Most in-person sessions are £70; I have some £65 slots in Brixton on Wednesday afternoons, and all online slots (Thursday mornings and lunchtimes) are £65 too. I also offer a free half-hour initial appointment.
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