Counselling for children, youth and adults in Albury-Wodonga and surrounds.

"Kind, supportive counsellor with over 15 years' experience".

Andy Simpson Counselling provides counselling to children through to adults. We firmly believes that everyone deserves support and understanding, and he is passionate about helping their clients achieve their goals.

"The person is not the problem, the problem is the problem"
Michael White

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Qualifications

Diploma of Community Service (Counselling)
Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Certificate in Sandplay and Symbol Work
Currently completing Master of Therapeutic Arts Practice

Professional Memberships

Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) Reg. Certified Practising 30593
College of Counselling (Victorian branch)
Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP)

In addition to these qualifications, Andy attends regular professional development workshops and short courses. Most recently, Andy has attended person-centred play therapy for children, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for treating children with anxiety disorders and advanced counselling skills.

Andy also participates in regular clinical supervision to ensure best practice is being met at all times.

Meet Andy

Andy is a certified registered counsellor with over 15 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults and their families in overcoming daily challenges through various mediums, including counselling, group work, and peer support within the Albury-Wodonga, including the Riverina region and North-East Victoria. His counselling journey began after facing personal challenges, including neurodivergence and mental ill-health. This led him to develop practice wisdom through supporting children, young people via outreach in primary and secondary schools, as well as several years of experience in not-for-profit agencies and organisations specialising in disability, young carers, homelessness, family violence, mental health recovery, personal wellbeing, and overall welfare.

Through his journey, Andy has discovered the transformative power of imagination, positivity, and play in addressing personal problems that come with being human. He is passionate about empowering individuals to find creative ways to express, explore, and resolve their difficulties. Andy's practice approach focuses on creating a safe and trusting therapeutic environment for self-exploration, using playful, fun, and non-confrontational methods to facilitate personal growth, both verbally and non-verbally.

Outside of his work, Andy enjoys camping, four-wheel driving, fishing, golfing, watching wrestling and airplane enthusiasts' content on YouTube.

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Our Services

Children

Working with children in counselling requires a unique approach that uses a developmental framework and emphasises the importance of playfulness. By creating a safe and supportive environment, counsellors help children express their emotions and work through challenges in a way that is both effective and enjoyable. Incorporating play and creative activities can also help children build important skills and coping mechanisms that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Adolescent & Youth

As an adolescent counsellor, it's important to create a safe and non-judgmental space for your clients to express themselves. By actively listening and providing guidance, you can help adolescents navigate the complexities of growing up and develop the skills they need to thrive.

By using art, music, or other forms of expression, people can better communicate their thoughts and feelings, leading to a more productive counselling session. As a counsellor, it's important create a safe and supportive environment that encourages creativity and self-expression.

Adults

If you're considering counselling, know that it's a brave and important step towards taking care of your mental health.

Counselling can provide a safe and confidential space for you to explore thoughts and feelings, and assist you through any challenges you may be facing.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and there is no shame in asking for support when you need it.

Online Counselling

Online counselling offers flexibility and convenience, allowing individuals to access support from the comfort of where ever they may be in the world. Online counselling can also reduce barriers to seeking help and support, such as travel time and scheduling conflicts and can promote a sense privacy and confidentiality, which can encourage more open and honest discussions.

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Walk and Talk

Walk and talk counselling offers a unique approach to counselling that combines physical activity with open conversation. This approach can help individuals feel more relaxed and less confined than traditional office settings, leading to more genuine dialogue. The natural environment can promote clarity of thought and felt sense and can enhance emotional well-being. Additionally, the physical movement can boost mood and reduce anxiety, making it an effective option for those seeking a fresh perspective on their challenges.

Are you or your child
experiencing any of the following?

Issues at school?

Problems socialising with other kids
Bullying or isolation on the playground
Concentration or focus stopping your child learning effectively
Other learning difficulties
Behaviours in the classroom that don’t happen at home
Study pressure and anxiety

Problems at home?

Withdrawing from the family
Fights with siblings or other family members?
Fights and refusing to follow instructions from Mum/Dad/Others
Relationship changes in the family (separation, new baby, other dynamic changes)
Family violence, trauma
Managing anger or other emotions

Neurodivergence
Difficulty with concentration, insight, attention span
Lack of motivation affecting ability to get out of bed
Self-esteem, confidence
Physical illness or disability that impacts daily functioning
Sexuality/Gender Identity
Life transitions and
Anxiety and/or depression

Mental Health & Developmental

Problems at work?

Feeling burnt out or stressed
Difficulty communicating with co-workers
Being bullied or treated unfairly
Difficulty managing work/life balance
Conflict with co-workers/management

How will Andy work with me?

Andy uses a humanistic approach in his counselling. The benefit of this is that it focuses on the individual's unique experiences, subjective experiences, and focusing on personal growth, emphasising the importance of empathy, self-awareness, and personal responsibility in understanding how we as humans function day-to-day. Essentially, it gives, you, the person in counselling, control and sees you as the expert in your own life, in a safe and controlled environment.

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Person-Centred Therapy

With an emphasis on the individual's inherent worth and capacity for growth and change, this approach is based on the belief that people have the ability to make positive change in their lives when provided with a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

The therapist works collaboratively with the client to help them identify and achieve their goals, while also fostering a sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

Designed to help individuals cultivate psychological flexibility and enhance their overall sense of well-being, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that is centred around the idea of accepting difficult thoughts and emotions, while committing to behaviours that are in alignment with one's personal values. By doing so, you can learn to better manage your emotions and develop greater sense of resilience in the face of adversity.

This therapy has been found to be particularly effective for individuals who are struggling with mental health concerns such as depression.

Sandplay & Symbol Work

Found to be highly effective in helping individuals explore their inner world, Sandplay therapy involves the use of symbols as powerful tools that can help clients express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in safe and non-judgmental space. By creating a miniature world in the sand, clients can access deeper levels of their psyche and gain insight into their unconscious processes. This can be particularly helpful for clients who struggle to express themselves verbally, as it provides alternative means of communication that is often more accessible and less intimidating.

I am grateful for the positive impact sandplay therapy has had on my child's emotional well-being. Thank you for your compassionate support.

Parent of a Sandplay Client

I would like to acknowledge traditional owners
across the lands where Andy Simpson Counselling operates,
and pay our respects to Australia’s First Peoples,
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
their elders past, present, and emerging,
for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hope of Aboriginal Australia;
and we commit to the ongoing work of
regeneration, reparation, responsibility, reciprocity, and relationality
(reconciliation implies that there was once a good relationship
between First Nations and white Australia, so we don't use that word);
and to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families within our networks.
I acknowledge that I work on the un-ceded land of the Wiradyuri people.