Steve Smith

239 Balham High Road London SW17 7BE View map
020 76428656 / 07714243962 stevesmithcounsellingsw11.co.uk Click here to Email me

Profile

I am a BACP accredited counsellor offering confidential, empathetic counselling and CBT in a safe, professional setting 2 minutes walk from Tooting Bec tube, 5 minutes walk from Balham tube.

An initial introductory session, where you can find out more about how we might go on to work together, costs £20. You can talk about anything in counselling, but some of the issues people often bring include, addictions, anger management, depression, anxiety and relationship problems.

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If you've never been to counselling before your probably, quite rightly, wondering how it might work. Well, many people find that simply having a space to reflect on their life with somebody who is not personally involved or judgemental is very helpful.

Beyond that, working together with a trained counsellor allows you to look at your life in ways you may not have considered before and get more insight and understanding about it. Exploring the assumptions you have about yourself and about life may reveal how they are holding you back and lead you to reassess or challenge those assumptions. 

How I work

I generally work in a way that combines elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with an Existential-Phenomelogical approach.  This sounds complicated but can be summed up very simply: CBT works by identifying your typical responses to situations and showing you how you can modify those responses if they are causing problems; existential means helping you make sense of you life and see that you have choices even where you might not be able to see that you do; phenomenological means looking at what you bring to the sessions in very open, non-judgemental way so that we can see clearly what issues you are having to deal with.

All of these approaches are, at heart, about taking control of the way you respond to what life brings you rather than walking through it on automatic pilot. Doing this can help you rediscover strengths and courage that will enable you live life as a more fulfilled, creative and less anxious person.

Although clearly counselling is a great deal about listening you will find that I don't just sit there listening and nodding. I will also probably ask more questions than many counsellors.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

BACP accredited and UKRCP registered

I hold a Post-Graduate Diploma in Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy.

I have worked as a counsellor with a number of counselling services in London and also within the NHS. I was until recently Project Leader of the Battersea Pastoral Counselling service.

Before training as a counsellor I worked for 20 years in the media industry.

I am an accredited member of BACP, which means I have regular supervision of my work with clients and engage in regular Continuing Professional Development training.

Areas of counselling I deal with

• Abuse
• Addiction(s)
• Affairs and Betrayals
• Alcohol Dependence
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Bullying
• Career Counselling
• Child Related Issues
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• Drug Abuse
• Eating Disorders
• Emotional Abuse
• Family Issues
• Gender Identity
• Generalised Anxiety
• HIV/AIDS
• Internet Addiction
• Low Self-Confidence
• Low Self-Esteem
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Phobias
• Physical Abuse
• Psychosexual Therapy
• Relationship Issues
• Self Harm
• Separation and Divorce
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexual Issues
• Sexuality
• Stress
• Work Related Issues

Other areas of counselling I deal with

* University adjustment problems.

Therapies Offered

• Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies
  - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Humanistic Therapies
  - Person-Centred Counselling
  - Existential Therapy

• Other Therapies
  - Integrative

Fees

Fee for initial session is £20.

Subsequent sessions are £45. I do offer a limited number of reduced fee sessions for people who are students or on a reduced income - please feel free to ask if concessions are available at the moment.

Further Information

Sessions can be arranged at locations in Balham (SW17) and in Battersea (SW11), if available. Please don't hesitate to contact me by phone or email if you would like to arrange an initial session or to talk through in more detail how counselling may be able to help you.

Member Organisation(s)

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