online therapy essex
About
My counselling service
If you are here then I imagine you feel you may be suffering and need a professional to talk to. I hope I can help you face your difficulties and feel less alone in doing so. I hope – and believe – that I am able to set aside my own beliefs and join you in your world, helping you move forward in the way that is right for you.
Perhaps you feel stuck, confused, lonely, depressed, anxious or traumatised by life’s events. Perhaps you are having difficulty coping or struggling to accept a major loss or bereavement. Perhaps you are worried about the way you feel, your mental health, your relationships or behaviour. Therapy may be right for you, if you make that decision.
Our starting point is often what you would like to change and we work towards helping you achieve whatever you believe would improve your life – be that the way you feel, the way you behave, the quality of your relationships, and so on.
However, not everybody has a clear objective for therapy. It may be that you would just like to talk to a professional about your difficulties, with no particular agenda in mind.
I work to make you feel safe to explore your life as it is or was, how you think, feel and behave and how these might be linked. Through a safe, empathic working relationship clients often gain self-awareness and acquire the confidence and coping skills to tackle life’s challenges.
Whatever you are going through, feel free to contact me to see if I am the right person to help.
My experience
My current clients are facing issues relating to living with autism, living with mental health difficulties, bereavement, loss (including long-term illness), as well as depression and anxiety, workplace stress and bullying, childhood abuse and neglect, trauma, guilt, anger, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. My clients are from a variety of backgrounds and a range of ages.
I have extensive experience in the charitable counselling sector. I am available at various times from Monday to Saturday – please contact me to arrange an appointment.
Video call sessions last just under an hour and cost £50.
Coming very soon… neurodivergent couples counselling.
My qualifications and training
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- Level 2, Understanding Autism
- Certificate in Bereavement Counselling (Farleigh Hospice)
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Therapy
- Additional training in safeguarding and suicidal ideation
My code of conduct
I observe a strict code of ethics which can be found here.
This means I adhere to the BACP’s strict standards of confidentiality, supervision by another experienced practitioner, record-keeping, and the ethical principles of trustworthiness, justice, self-respect, autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence.
I promote your ability to trust your own judgement and do not give you advice on how to manage your difficulties. This means that going forward, clients often gain in feelings of self-reliance and reduce their feelings of inability to cope and dependency on outside advice and influences.
In addition, I may use my knowledge of mental health conditions, relationships or counselling theory to help you make sense of your feelings and experiences, as well as my knowledge of how traumatic experiences may keep us from moving forward.
Alison Smith MBACP