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Sometimes we can go around in circles trying to figure out what to do and it feels like out head will explode. This causes us anxiety, sadness, frustration and can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Well-meaning family and friends give us their tuppence-worth on what they think we 'should' do, and then we feel the pressure mounting. Talking to a counsellor, who is independent, not emotionally involved, and focused on your needs, is an option you might consider.

I can offer a safe, warm, non-judgemental, confidential space for you to explore what is troubling you. I work in the way that best suits you; we can simply chat, explore with creative intervention or we can work with worksheets. I am open to exploring what is the most effective way to bring about change and a different perspective to my client’s problems.

I have experience of working with many different presenting issues and have a keen interest in relationship issues.

I am passionate about counselling and the amazing way it facilitates change in people’s lives. Counselling is not a quick fix and involves hard work and painful growing and stretching, but sticking with it and trusting the process, is worth it. I am living proof of this!

Since qualifying in 2009, I have managed a counselling agency, worked on a voluntary basis and run my own private practice. I also run my own training organisation (www.greenwoodevents.co.uk) offering Continuing Professional Development workshops for counsellors. This enables me to expand my knowledge, keep up-to-date and equips me to work in creative and different ways to help my clients.

If what is bothering you is not listed here, but you are wondering if I can help, please do not hesitate to get in touch to arrange a free informal chat. Email me at audreysmithcounselling@outlook.com. If I can't help, I will do my best to help you find someone who can.

I would describe my practice as integrative and I will try and explain this in simple terms. A list of what each approach is, can be found here: /about-therapy/types-of-therapy/. My core training is in the person-centred, psychodynamic and CBT approaches. However, I have had years of continuing professional development and I am an avid reader of anything to do with mental health.

What this means in non-counselling terms, is that I like to look at the current problem and explore where it may have started in the past. This helps to build a more in-depth understanding of oneself and one’s life story, thus raising self-awareness and therefore offering the client more choice about how to tackle problems in the present rather than being reactive to things that happen.

Once we reach the point where we can see the links, we are then ready to look at what strategies we can put in place to make the desired changes. Throughout the whole process, I offer you genuineness, acceptance and empathy and I hold a firm belief in the client’s ability to find a way forward. I also like to work in, ‘real-time’, and what I mean by this is, work with the experiences we have between us as we work together.

As we are all unique, so the counselling must be tailored to the uniqueness of the client. If exploring the past is too painful, we can remain in the present and be more solution focused. I am led by the client.

Whatever way you look at it, this is a collaborative piece of work and together we explore what the best options are to help you along the bump in the road.

Once you make contact, I will respond as soon as possible and offer the option of an initial telephone conversation or to make an appointment for our first session together.

At the first session, we talk about what has brought you to counselling, and explore if I have adequate experience in the area you need help with. We go over the counselling agreement and establish expectations. If I feel I can’t help you, then I will do my best to help you find someone who can.

The length of time counselling takes varies from person to person, but we would regularly review our progress. There is no obligation to continue if you don’t want to, or if you decide, once you start, that it is not working for you, and counselling can be terminated at any time.

After this initial appointment, you attend, generally speaking, for an hour once a week.

Finding a supportive supervisor is vital if you want to grow your practice, gain confidence and spread your wings in this wonderful profession. Ideally you want to feel safe to bring absolutely anything to your supervisor, not just the successes, but the ethical dilemmas, the parts that trouble you and the perceived ‘mistakes’.

The hope is that we can develop a safe space together where we can collaboratively explore the rationales for decisions made in the counselling process with your clients keeping at all times in mind their safety and wellbeing. I come without judgement, but with curiosity and an open mind to explore what is transpiring in the therapeutic relationship.

I have been in practice for over 15 years, and I also run a business that offers CPD to counsellors (www.greenwoodevents.co.uk). So, as well as my training in person-centred, psychodynamic and CBT approaches, I have thousands of hours of CPD under my belt that I can draw on, including specialist training on working with people who have been to boarding school. I offer understanding, sharing of experience, reassurance, gentle challenge and support.

In addition, I am happy to offer any information I deem appropriate for psychoeducation. I have a vast library of psychoeducational tools gathered over the years which I am more than happy to share.

Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see you grow and expand as a therapist in this increasingly competitive space.

If you are setting out in private practice, I can offer you practical help in this area that can help you gain confidence in developing as a business person, as well as a therapist.

Feel free to get in touch for a chat to see if we are a good fit. Contact me on audreysmithcounselling@outlook.com.