Andrea Dechamps

I am an experienced counsellor and supervisor offering counselling and supervision alongside family & system constellations (for individuals and groups).

I have 30 plus years experience in private practice and within end of life care settings. My approach is best described as integrative, drawing on a wide range of approaches, including my person-centred / integrative core training, solution-focussed ways of working, EFT and trauma / resilience related approaches. More recently I have specialised in system constellations and also broadened my practice into nature-based coaching. 

Whilst I offer 'pure' constellations (see separate listing) the constellations approach and way of thinking are also woven into my 1-1 counselling sessions. Likewise, I can weave elements of coaching into counselling where appropriate and desired.

You may wonder how all that fits together? Let's find out together. I bring my tool box, you bring yourself. Then let's explore.

I bring warmth and my deep interest in YOU to this work. I offer 1-1 counselling which is about being heard, understood, listened to and held. In my experience it is often this that makes the difference.

I believe counselling is about relationship. I am not the remote and inscrutable kind of therapist. I am very much present in the relationship, open to meeting YOU. I am curious about you and what brings you to counselling, and will join you as we explore, together. I will answer questions if you ask for this and if it feels appropriate. At times I may challenge you, gently. Of course the focus though is on you. Together we can work towards a deeper understanding of your concerns and meeting your aims for counselling, whatever these might be.

I have a varied practice and work both face-to-face and on-line. At times I hold sessions outdoors - we could discuss this.

I offer some reduced rates, including for e.g. counselling students. Clients paying the full fee enable me to offer lower rates to others. Do discuss a concessionary rate with me if the full fee would create a barrier for you. 

I offer a free introductory on-line session, up to 30 minutes.

This first session is about getting to know each other a little. It is your opportunity to tell me about the issues that are concerning you, and you will get some sense of how you might feel working with me. Feel free to ask questions - no question too silly. If you can't think of questions I can help you with finding some questions for me. 

This will be a new experience and you may feel nervous - that's totally understandable. I will do my best to put you at ease. 

Some people wonder about silences in sessions and whether these may feel long and awkward. I have been there myself! Please feel reassured that I won't leave you in an uncomfortable silence whilst also giving you the time and space to express yourself and process what is going on for you. We will find our rhythm with each other. 

Do you have worries how you might fill the time during this first half hour session? And what about later sessions, lasting a whole hour? Some of my skills are in gently asking questions which will help you to explore in the time available. In my experience, with most clients, the time feels just right. 

Our aim for our first session will be to see whether we feel whether we might be able to work together and how long that might take. You will get a chance to see if I am the right counsellor for you. 

Finally, in case you are wondering, it is absolutely fine not to proceed after our first session. This is about you and what feels right for you. I look forward to meeting you.

I am an experienced counsellor and supervisor with over 30 years experience offering counselling and supervision alongside Family & System Constellations (for individuals and groups).

For more details about my counselling and supervision practice please see my other listings. This is a listing about my Family @ System Constellations work. I offer both group and individual Constellations.

First, about my training in this field. Constellations go back to the work Bert Hellinger, drawing on a number of modalities including Gestalt, Virginia Satir's family sculpting, hypnotherapy, systemic family therapy and Zulu tradition. Bert Hellinger's work has been taken forward by a number of different schools, including the Syst-Institute in Munich/Germany. My training with Holm v. Egidy in Structural Systemic Constellations (Syst ®) built on the Syst tradition.

I currently run a monthly Constellations drop-in group in the Lewes area (every second Tuesday of the month, 7pm) and I am about to set up a second group in Brighton. To make this accessible and affordable for all, and in the spirit of radical inclusion, there is currently an expectation of a £10 only minimum donation for attendance at these events. Give more if you can. For more information regarding the group events email me or search East Sussex Family and Systemic Constellations on Eventbrite.

I also offer 1-1 Constellation sessions. These are usually one off face to face sessions with a follow up session if desired. The cost for these is £60.

“I feel more at ease, connected to self. I feel a gentleness around me. Something has most definitely shifted for me. Deep gratitude for your insight and understanding” (a recent group participant).

Family constellations are known as an effective process for providing a lens through which we can attend to our family and other personal relationships, including also inherited trauma. The Structural Systemic Constellations (Syst ®) approach I use extends the classic family constellation approach, incorporating new methods. Again and again I experience this as an exciting and fresh approach to exploring and working with a broad range of relationship and 'life' issues, including professional or organisational issues, illness or physical symptoms, struggling to say 'no', self image, lack of fulfillment, discontentment, to name but a few. Constellations complement well other exploration and personal development (personal reflection, conversation, therapy, coaching). What unfolds in a single session is often freeing, sometimes surprising, often moving.

The focus of constellations is on the individual in the context of their 'system'. Through constellations, significant events that have impacted on the system and its web of relationships can be explored. Underlying and sometimes unseen dynamics operating within the individual's system can become apparent. Then, with greater clarity of the system and its forces, work towards resolving entanglements and blockages within the system is undertaken. Positive change often follows.

Some common issues for constellation work

Wishing for healthier relationships with a partner or family members

Searching for clearer separation and disentanglement from significant people

Confidence in self and the ability and clarity to step forward with important decisions

Wanting to find peace with past difficult experiences, letting go

Seeking reconciliation with significant people

Wanting to move beyond what holds you back, beyond blockages

Please contact me regarding any questions.

More details regarding the group offer are on Eventbrite, search for East Sussex Family and Systemic Constellations.

For an informal free on-line chat regarding a 1-1 Constellation email me.

I am an experienced counsellor and supervisor offering counselling and supervision alongside family & system constellations (for individuals and groups).

This is a listing about my counselling practice. For more details supervision and my constellations practice please see my other listings. 

I have 30 plus years experience in private practice and within end of life care settings. My approach is best described as integrative, drawing on a wide range of approaches, including my person-centred / integrative core training, solution-focussed ways of working, EFT and trauma / resilience related approaches. More recently I have specialised in system constellations and also broadened my practice into nature-based coaching.

Whilst I offer 'pure' constellations (see separate listing) the constellations approach and way of thinking are also woven into my 1-1 counselling sessions. Likewise, I can weave elements of coaching into counselling where appropriate and desired.

You may wonder how all that fits together? Let's find out together. I bring my tool box, you bring yourself. Then let's explore.

I bring warmth and my deep interest in YOU to this work. I offer 1-1 counselling which is about being heard, understood, listened to and held. In my experience it is often this that makes the difference.

I believe counselling is about relationship. I am not the remote and inscrutable kind of therapist. I am very much present in the relationship, open to meeting YOU. I am curious about you and what brings you to counselling, and will join you as we explore, together. I will answer questions if you ask for this and if it feels appropriate. At times I may challenge you, gently. Of course the focus though is on you. Together we can work towards a deeper understanding of your concerns and meeting your aims for counselling, whatever these might be.

I have a varied practice and work both face-to-face and on-line. At times I hold sessions outdoors - we could discuss this.

I offer some reduced rates, including for e.g. counselling students. Clients paying the full fee enable me to offer lower rates to others. Do discuss a concessionary rate with me if the full fee would create a barrier for you. 

I offer a free introductory on-line session, up to 30 minutes.

This first session is about getting to know each other a little. It is your opportunity to tell me about the issues that are concerning you, and you will get some sense of how you might feel working with me. Feel free to ask questions - no question too silly. If you can't think of questions I can help you with finding some questions for me.

This will be a new experience and you may feel nervous - that's totally understandable. I will do my best to put you at ease.

Some people wonder about silences in sessions and whether these may feel long and awkward. I have been there myself! Please feel reassured that I won't leave you in an uncomfortable silence whilst also giving you the time and space to express yourself and process what is going on for you. We will find our rhythm with each other.

Do you have worries how you might fill the time during this first half hour session? And what about later sessions, lasting a whole hour? Some of my skills are in gently asking questions which will help you to explore in the time available. In my experience, with most clients, the time feels just right.

Our aim for our first session will be to see whether we feel whether we might be able to work together and how long that might take. You will get a chance to see if I am the right counsellor for you.

Finally, in case you are wondering, it is absolutely fine not to proceed after our first session. This is about you and what feels right for you. I look forward to meeting you.

I am an experienced counsellor and supervisor with over 30 years experience offering counselling and supervision alongside Family & System Constellations (for individuals and groups).

For more details about my counselling and supervision practice please see my other listings. This is a listing about my Family @ System Constellations work. I offer both group and individual Constellations.

First, about my training in this field. Constellations go back to the work Bert Hellinger, drawing on a number of modalities including Gestalt, Virginia Satir's family sculpting, hypnotherapy, systemic family therapy and Zulu tradition. Bert Hellinger's work has been taken forward by a number of different schools, including the Syst-Institute in Munich/Germany. My training with Holm v. Egidy in Structural Systemic Constellations (Syst ®) built on the Syst tradition.

I currently run a monthly Constellations drop-in group in the Lewes area (every second Tuesday of the month, 7pm) and I am about to set up a second group in Brighton. To make this accessible and affordable for all, and in the spirit of radical inclusion, there is currently an expectation of only a £10 minimum donation for attendance at these events. Give more if you can. For more information regarding the group events email me or search East Sussex Family and Systemic Constellations on Eventbrite.

I also offer 1-1 Constellation sessions. These are usually one off face to face sessions with a follow up session if desired. The cost for these  is £60.

“I feel more at ease, connected to self. I feel a gentleness around me. Something has most definitely shifted for me. Deep gratitude for your insight and understanding” (a recent group participant).

Family constellations are known as an effective process for providing a lens through which we can attend to our family and other personal relationships, including also inherited trauma. The Structural Systemic Constellations (Syst ®) approach I use extends the classic family constellation approach, incorporating new methods. Again and again I experience this as an exciting and fresh approach to exploring and working with a broad range of relationship and 'life' issues, including professional or organisational issues, illness or physical symptoms, struggling to say 'no', self image, lack of fulfillment, discontentment, to name but a few. Constellations complement well other exploration and personal development (personal reflection, conversation, therapy, coaching). What unfolds in a single session is often freeing, sometimes surprising, often moving.

The focus of constellations is on the individual in the context of their 'system'. Through constellations, significant events that have impacted on the system and its web of relationships can be explored. Underlying and sometimes unseen dynamics operating within the individual's system can become apparent. Then, with greater clarity of the system and its forces, work towards resolving entanglements and blockages within the system is undertaken. Positive change often follows.

Some common issues for constellation work

Wishing for healthier relationships with a partner or family members

Searching for clearer separation and disentanglement from significant people

Confidence in self and the ability and clarity to step forward with important decisions

Wanting to find peace with past difficult experiences, letting go

Seeking reconciliation with significant people

Wanting to move beyond what holds you back, beyond blockages

Please contact me regarding any questions. 

More details regarding the group offer are on Eventbrite, search for East Sussex Family and Systemic Constellations.

For an informal free on-line chat regarding a 1-1 Constellation email me.