Andrew M Richardson

My journey to a therapy practice

For thirty years I worked as a professional economist; in Africa (Swaziland) and for the UK Treasury, then in the city and finally as a consultant financial economist. Some may consider this the perfect training for counselling and psychotherapy. I am in my late 60s.

I began my journey to this counselling practice at the beginning of the century. During this time, I studied and meditated extensively, particularly in the Buddhist tradition and studied the Enneagram Personality Typing System. This culminated in intensive Human Givens training in 2002-2005.

Human Givens attracted me because it made sense, it did not require that you needed therapy yourself, it was free of the artificial constraints to how counsellors should work and most important, I had a profound sense that I could do this. I could see how it would help many people and that my unconventional background (for a therapist) might actually be an advantage.

I have been counselling full time since 2005.

This video remains as true now as when it was recorded.

My life now

My practice is based in my home in Cornwall, where I live with my second wife and daughter. I am a father again, late in life and am enjoying watching Ella grow with love, support and lots of attention.

I have been suffering from a chronic and slowly progressing MS (multiple sclerosis) for many years. It has reached the stage where walking is tricky and so much of my life is centred in my home and close by. Yet despite this and the near certainty of continuing deterioration, I am pretty content. My capacity to practice my therapy at home is not in any way compromised. And the wellbeing lessons I share with my clients are for me as well.

The miracle of Skype/Zoom and email have also allowed me to help people across the world.

 

My Feeling Better Counselling practice

To assist those who seek help to live their lives where freedom, control and taking responsibility are expanded and where understandings of what works practically facilitate and supports this.

My aim is to empower, as it is a lack of control somewhere down the line that lies at the heart of most distress, be it depression, anxieties of all kinds, trauma, angers, addictions or obsessions, a lack of self-confidence, dissatisfaction and relationship problems.

It is not primarily about counselling techniques – but something rather more profound.

Feeling Better Counselling is rooted in common sense, is optimistic and sensitive to your values and wishes.

To provide counselling/psychotherapy which is the antidote to what so often is unsatisfactory about the NHS and conventional medicine or indeed many private counsellors.

Human Givens Institute
  • HG.Dip.P
  • The practitioner qualification from the Human Givens College Advanced Certificate in Human Givens
  • MHGI
  • Accredited Member of the Human Givens Institute

I abide by the HGI code of ethics

ghr
  • GQHP
  • Member of the General Hypnotherapy Register
  • Qualified in Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
  • Qualified with the NSCI (Smoking Cessation)
 

Understanding Human Givens (a ten minute talk)

Explaining Emotions (a ten minute talk)