Andrew Blackwood

Psychodynamic Counsellor & Psychotherapist

I offer a safe and confidential space to talk about any struggles or concerns, which affect your life. We work at your own pace and I will be open and receptive to what you say.  By freely associating with your unconscious thoughts, it is possible to connect to painful unexpressed feelings and experiences to recognise how they might be working out in your present relationships. Through this process you can discover unexpected perspectives and creative ways to renew your capacity to think about and experience yourself. By giving voice to your feelings, and your experience being acknowledged, we can make our way together to find alternative responses to your experience relating to ordinary life. 

Psychodynamic therapy is about thinking together and finding ways through painful and overwhelming feelings you may be experiencing. It means trying to understand how this has happened and acknowledge that these feelings may need voicing now. By thinking about these experiences in the context of early relationships, and how they return and emerge in the present, you may find new perspectives  on how you feel about yourself and the world around you.

I have worked in diverse therapeutic settings both as a private practitioner and in different organisations: NHS secondary care, charities, not-for-profit organisations and community psychotherapy. I have experienced working with a range of psychological disturbances.

I have also worked with older people, who are experiencing changes and losses in later life, whether it is a recent retirement, bereavement, increasing physical dependency or isolation.  I  have also worked with clients with early onset dementia and find therapy a useful way of alleviating distress caused by this life changing illness. 

Andrew has extensive experience working with the below problems;

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Grief, loss & bereavement

• Early onset dementia

• Life changes because of aging

• Domestic abuse

• Relationship problems  

Models & approaches Andrew is trained to use:

• Psychodynamic therapy

Clients Andrew works with.

• Adults (19-65 Years)

• Elderly (65+ Years)

What is psychodynamic therapy?

In psychodynamic psychotherapy, consists of parts of many different types of analytical talking therapies combined. Psychodynamic and psychoanalytical therapy focuses on the idea that each individual's unconscious thoughts and perceptions are shaped through their childhood. It is similar to psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy in that psychodynamic therapy aims to bring the unconscious to consciousness, although treatment is less intensive with sessions usually held once a week rather than three times a week. 

In psychodynamic psychotherapy you will be helped to recognise, experience, and understand your true, deep-rooted feelings, in order to resolve them. It is based on the belief that the unconscious stores painful memories and emotions that are too difficult for the conscious mind to comprehend. 

Many people develop defences such as denial and projection in order to prevent these memories and experiences from coming to the surface. According to psychodynamic therapy, these defences will often do more harm than good. In particular, these types of therapies can be helpful for those trying to resolve issues from their past. 

Andrew’s training & credentials

• MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy 

• Registrant psychodynamic counsellor BPC

• Member of BACP