Andy MeadsCounselling in Corsham, Wiltshire & Online

"May the golden thread of humanity connect all so that love and healing can be" (Andy Meads, 2016)

Hello, my name is Andy and thank you for taking time to look at my website. I work as a counsellor in private practice and primarily offer in-person appointments in Corsham, Wiltshire on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I also offer some phone counselling on Monday.

The image above of people walking in a crowded street holds many different stories of humanity. It could be Bath, Chippenham, Corsham, Colerne, Calne, Lacock, Melksham, Trowbridge or it could be anywhere. Some people may feel part of a community with a sense of belonging. Yet other people may feel alone or even lost when surrounded by others.

For some people, therapy can offer a confidential space, some time and a place away from the crowd to talk through any worries or fears or explore what they may need or what is on their mind or how they are feeling. Counselling with me can offer an opportunity to be heard and listened to without judgement.

Reaching out and seeking support can feel daunting particularly if you don't know what to expect. However, taking the first step in finding some help may be the beginning of a new and healing journey. It may also help you find a different way to relate to yourself and others, and to find a different way of being in this world.

As part of my training to become a counsellor, I recall my own journey when initially seeking personal therapy and how hard it was to trust someone and tell them my story. Through several years of personal therapy, I explored the experiences I endured during my childhood and adolescence and pulled apart some of my conscious and unconscious thoughts, beliefs and feelings and was able to integrate a new sense of self and experienced personal growth. 

People tend to seek counselling when something about their life needs to be more understood. This could be intrusive or repetitive negative thoughts and/or beliefs about self and/or others. Reasons for seeking counselling might be about certain behaviours and beliefs that seem to be getting in the way of how someone wants to live their life and they keep coming up against a 'brick wall'. Some people may feel confused about traumatic events in their life or confused about certain challenges. It may be that strong un-named feelings exist or other such feelings as anger, fear, anxiety, guilt, hate or sadness are present, and the reasons may not be fully known or understood. Sometimes, people may have lived for years, even decades grappling with, coping, surviving and getting-on with life whilst such negative thoughts, behaviours, beliefs and feelings impact on the meaning and quality of daily life. Perhaps it is like life and development being suspended amid being 'triggered' from unconscious trauma.

For some people being-in counselling can be straightforward, perhaps focussing on something that needs to change or setting personal goals. For others, attending and being-in counselling can be hard. It can take time and energy to understand what has happened and to find self-awareness, acceptance and healing. Counselling will not take away or change what has happened to you. Counselling can be about taking time for yourself, perhaps for the first time in a long time or even the first time ever, to help you find some new perspectives on your life, and how you might relate to yourself, others and the world in different ways.

Counselling is about reaching out and perhaps grappling with something unknown to you, something unconsciously held within you, or finding a new discovery about yourself and perhaps finding a new curiosity about your life.

As your counsellor, I will not tell you what to do or give you the answers but rather I will 'walk alongside you' without judgement. Metaphorically, as I 'walk alongside you', I may hold up a torch as you explore along your individual path of self discovery. I always aim to work in a way that shows compassion.

As a qualified Humanistic and Integrative counsellor, if you choose to work with me I will value your uniqueness, listen to you and witness your story. 

Another aspect to being-in counselling is that things can emerge from being in a deeper relationship with your-self, which often offers glimpses of the potential life-long personal enquiry all human beings may connect with.

After several years of personal therapy and ongoing deep reflection and development I have found a new path in my life, a path where I am now more present in my life. Through being-in personal counselling, the experiences I endured during my childhood and adolescence no longer unconsciously haunt me and through learning to trust the therapeutic process, I have learnt to trust myself and have found inner self-integration.

From my counselling income I regularly donate to charities, such as The Samaritans and Save the Children.

My private practice is based in Corsham, which is within easy reach of surrounding areas including Bath,  Chippenham, Colerne, Calne, Melksham, Lacock and Trowbridge.

Next Steps

Do you want an Initial Consultation?

If you are interested in working with me as your counsellor, then please email me on the link provided and I will email you a couple of dates/times for an Initial Consultation. If you have any specific days/times when you can attend counselling, then please let me know this in your email. Please also let me know whether your preference is for in-person or phone counselling

An Initial Consultation generally lasts up to 50 minutes.

Please note, my fee for an Initial Consultation is £30, which needs to be paid in advance, and is non-refundable.

After the Initial Consultation, if we wish to work together, then we can arrange a start date for your counselling. 

Please also note: although my aim is to respond within 48 hours after I have received your referral email, at times, my response can take up to 2 weeks and this is due to the high demand for counselling.