At Diocesan Synod on the 4th November, the Revd Andrew De Smet was Licensed by the Archbishop in his new full-time role as Archbishop's Adviser and Co-ordinator of Pastoral Care in the Diocese of York.

Andrew has of course been with us in this role for ten years but until now he has combined it with being half-time Vicar of the Kirkdale group of four rural parishes near Helmsley.

“It was hard to say goodbye to the parishes, but with an able Curate, Reader and Churchwardens they are left in good hands,” said Andrew. “I’m glad to be able to respond more thoroughly to the need to attend to people’s mental and spiritual health and wellbeing. I will also be able to undertake more preventative work."

A British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited counsellor, Andrew offers counselling (general, stress management, depression, anxiety, bereavement, historic abuse, spiritual issues), or a one-off confidential space to talk something through.

He can also offer short term supervision to reflect on difficult or challenging work or pastoral situations and mediation in situations of conflict. This service is available to clergy their families, diocesan staff and readers; strict confidentiality is kept.

Andrew is also one of the spiritual direction team in the Diocese. “Spiritual Direction is recommended for anyone in ministry and available to all,” he says. “It is a way of regularly stepping back and taking stock of life, faith and your walk with God.”

www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/counselling