Louise Smyth
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a HCPC (Health Care Professions Council) state registered therapist. I qualified in 1992. I have a warm, compassionate, non-judgmental approach and have extensive experience working with diverse groups of people.
I have over 20 years of experience working with trauma using talking, the body, drama and movement. If appropriate I also use various small objects to allow people to project their feelings safely, as well as other props such as clay, sand and water. I am influenced by Jung, Gestalt, psychodynamic thinking and mindfulness. I am a member of the British Association of Dramatherapists and follow their ethical guidelines.
Inner Child Work For Adults
I am particularly interested in working together to explore the 'inner child'. These creative approaches can be very helpful in allowing us to access 'places' that were not given space or a voice as a child. I work sensitively and intuitively so these feelings can be expressed at an individual's own pace. It can be an opportunity to nurture your inner child, let your inner child play, express joy, excitement or passion. Or a chance to put boundaries in place gently and safely. Or perhaps grieve, feel anger, disorientation, confusion or complete emptiness and feel supported throughout. This work is key I believe to enabling people to move forward, overcome developmental delay and release blockages.
Anxiety and Depression
I have many years of experience in working with clients with anxiety and depression. I have a client centered approach and offer an opportunity for clients to talk through their concerns in a safe environment where it may sometimes take time to build trust and to feel understood. I am open to working quite cognitively, developing strategies and exercises that help make life easier to manage as well as exploring issues creatively.
Children and Young People
I offer 1 to 1 sessions for children and young people. It can be very beneficial to be able to offer children and young people a choice around how they feel like engaging in a particular session, whether it be talking, using sensory materials, small objects, drama, movement, art, puppets or stories. I am careful to work at an individual's pace, sometimes obliquely sometimes more directly and always with the utmost respect for the child or young person. I try to ensure that the children and young people who come to the sessions feel safe enough to be able to explore all kinds of feelings without feeling judged. I have an advanced DBS check and keep my child protection training updated.
Parent/Guardian and Child/Young person
I have been working with children and young people alongside their parents or guardians for the last 10 years. I have found it to be really useful for the child or young person to have their parent or guardian in the session and for them to take part in the creativity. I work with all kinds of creative methods depending on what feels the most appropriate. I also use theraplay in some of these sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have experience of working within the NHS, privately and for charities. I have worked with people with mental health issues as well as people with learning difficulties in a variety of settings. I have undertaken courses in working with trauma, abuse, attachment issues, domestic violence, gestalt and mindfulness. I also regularly update my professional training in dramatherapy. I have worked particularly with young people, children and adults who were experiencing anxiety, depression, obsessional compulsive disorder, low self esteem and eating disorders. I coordinated projects and worked as a therapist for Women's Aid for 8 years. This role involved liaising with other organisations and working closely with colleagues on child protection issues. Before this I worked in various environments such as family centres, residential settings, schools, the NHS, privately, in a creche and in India. I continue to learn and gain inspiration through my own personal development.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 - £70.00
Free initial online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I charge £80 - £90 an hour. Fees can be negotiated when working with children, young people or adults on a low income.
When I work
I can offer daytime, evening or weekend appointments
Further information
Please feel free to email me with any questions.
