Counsellor Andy reaps rewards after career change

Dark times in Andy Crossley’s life are fuelling the 47-year-old’s success as a psychotherapist.

Graduating today from the MA Counselling and Psychotherapy course at LJMU, the husband and father-of-two has already set up a thriving practice and runs counselling sessions for a charity and the NHS.

Andy is one of many LJMU graduates entering the profession as society suffers rising levels of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and other stress-related conditions.

And he feels well-placed to help, having struggled with adversity in own life – including losing his job as a teacher.

“Counselling, literally, saved my life and enabled me to get through dark times,” Andy says. 

“From first-hand experience, I know how difficult it can be to talk and open up about troubling feelings and emotions. I feel more needs to be done to make mental health support, more accessible to people.”

With a first degree in English & French, the Yorkshireman, who now lives in Ormskirk, completed a PGCE before teaching at a range of schools on Merseyside, including Bootle High, Holly Lodge and Rainhill High.

After 18 years in the classroom, a heart condition - myopericarditis – forced him to take early retirement.

“This loss of status, income and self-worth had a massive impact my life. Those few years were really tough. It can feel extremely lonely and isolating to live with a health condition; it can be difficult to talk about with loved ones and it is all too easy to feel shut off from the rest of the world.”

Fortunately, Andy sought the help of a counsellor and it literally saved his life, he says. “I believe this is why I am so passionate about the psychological impact of chronic ill-health.”

Serendipitously, the traumatic episode also led Andy to discover a future path and a career change. And it’s going very well indeed!

“The MA Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice at LJMU given me a new career.”

Apart from running a busy private practice - Ormskirk Therapy – he does affiliate work for The Reach Men's Centre in Bootle and also counselling for the NHS through Birchwood Counselling in Skelmersdale.

“It is very different from when I was a teacher, and I really appreciate the freedom and autonomy of managing my own work.

“Enrolling on the MA at LJMU was one of the best decisions I ever made. I loved it! Achieving a distinction is something I'm really proud of. The MA has changed the direction of my life and given me back purpose and fulfilment.”

LJMU Graduation March 2025

More than 1,000 students received their awards today (Thursday 27 March 2025) from the schools of Humanities and Social Sciences, Justice Studies, Nursing and Advanced Practice, Psychology, and Public and Allied Health.

You can find more images from today’s ceremonies on the LJMU social channels (opens in a new tab).

IMAGE: Andy and wife Charlotte with boys Isaac and Oscar at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral