Gaynor Smith
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This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Welcome to my profile.
My independent practice is based near Worksop. I have 25 years of experience as a therapist and work with various issues. My specialisms are trauma and abuse, grief and relationships.
I have worked in private practice for 15 years, including being an affiliate of Employee Assistance Programmes, Occupational health services and insurance companies. I counselled staff and students from a local college for a number of years.
Alongside my private practice, I am employed as the Clinical Lead of Rotherham Abuse Counselling service. Here I lead a team of highly skilled trauma and abuse specialists.
In my previous role, I was a counselling coordinator for Mansfield Counselling Service. I am a senior accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their Ethical Framework and within good practice guidelines. I am also trained in Person Centred Art Therapy Skills and have a Diploma in supervision and working with Young People.
See further information for my way of working.
Training, qualifications & experience
- BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor and BACP registered.
- European Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Diploma in Person Centred Supervision
- Certificate in Person Centred Art Therapy Skills
- Grief Support Facilitation Programme
- Cruse - Bereavement training
- Time and Stress management
- Transactional Analysis (TA101)
- Certificate in Creative Counselling for young people.
- Certificate in working online
I complete at least 30 hours of continuing professional development on a yearly basis. To date (May 2022) I have completed 6351 client hours.
Examples of recent training courses:
- Child sexual exploitation, Relational trauma and disorganised attachment and Working with couples.
- Online sexual addiction, Challenging domestic violence (Female and male survivors& perpetrators), Mindfulness & Trauma, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Overcoming Insomnia.
Eating Disorders, Relationship issues, Brief therapy for stopping addictions, anger management, ethics and standards, erotic transference, self harm and body awareness. Working with Somatisation and dissociation. CBT techniques. Creating Transformative relationships. Attachment, Dissociation and complex trauma.
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.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Somatisation and Dissociation
- Person Centred Art therapy Skills
- Sand play Therapy
I facilitate an online support group with people who have lost loved ones to the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I offer an initial assessment for therapy for £20 (for self- referrals only) as this is an introductory session without the obligation, to assess and explore your needs.
- I then charge £45 per session for individuals and £55 per session for couples.
- Sessions are 50 mins in duration. (60 mins for couples).
- My fee for supervision is £55 per 1.5 hrs
I have on occasion offered concessionary sessions. This can be discussed at the initial assessment.
I have a cancellation fee of £20 for sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.
When I work
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I work Mondays only in Private Practice.
Further information
I offer short and long term therapy. I usually see clients weekly or fortnightly depending on client needs.
I offer a professional, safe and confidential space in order for trust to build. My initial training was as a Humanistic therapist influenced largely by the Person Centred Approach. This means that I place emphasis on the relationship that builds throughout the sessions. I offer an environment of warmth, acceptance and respect.
Over the years I have undertaken additional training, including Cognitive behavioural therapy and Transactional analysis. Each individual client has unique needs and the approach integrated will depend on the client. I believe that all people have the potential to learn, grow and change and that all people deserve to lead a fulfilling life and overcome or manage difficulties effectively.
Counselling is a commitment on the part of both therapist and client but working through difficult or painful issues in a non-judgemental atmosphere can create space for therapeutic movement to take place.
Counselling can help problems to be seen in a different light and give space to explore ways of overcoming challenges in life.
Client testimonial
Having never had any form of counselling previously my initial thoughts were with regards to being face to face with someone I had never met and "opening up" in discussion of my anxieties. Within minutes of meeting Gaynor my mind was put at ease, with a friendly smile and a calm down to earth approach I felt relaxed and comfortable and safe in the knowledge that confidentiality was paramount. Throughout my therapy, Gaynor has been supportive, warm, genuine and at all times professional. I feel that I have benefited greatly from my therapy and would recommend Gaynor as the counsellor to help you. - Jeff, North Notts
