Let me introduce myself to you …. I’ve been a practicing Counsellor for the past eight years, working in a variety of settings, privately and most prevalently, in a GP Surgery. I hold a University of Ulster Diploma in Counselling (3 year degree course) and as an accredited member of the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists, I am required to maintain 32 hours per year of continued professional development, and therefore continue to be engaged in various areas of study in the field. I am currently pursuing a Level 5 Diploma in CBT although I have much training already in this field.
My employment background had previously been in the legal field, which provided me with a solid base in a professional environment. I then pursued work in the voluntary and young peoples sector (my passion) and was retained by a national youth organisation, with the task of managing campsites, statistics and various other administrative tasks. Through all of this, it was apparent to me that so many people struggled to make sense of their lives and through my own personal life journey, I recognised the benefits of counselling and the helping professions. The training I have gained has allowed me to understand how deeper feelings affect people’s beliefs about themselves, their behaviour and their relationships.
I feel that my considerable employment background, my journey in education, my personal life story and the 3,000 plus hours of counselling experience I have gained, have all contributed to my ability to offer an empathic, sensitive counselling environment.
Dawn Andrews Dip HE MBACP
