Dr Claudia Schmidt
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.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Sometimes personal difficulties can have a major impact on our well-being, relationships or work. Maybe friends and family can offer some support but we may also choose to see a qualified and experienced practitioner, who can provide a safe space in which to understand and work with whatever is going on for us.
I have a wide range of experience, which includes working in an NHS psychology department, at university as a Student Counsellor and Associate Lecturer, in a GP practice as a Lead Therapist and Supervisor, delivering Integrative Therapy (using Person-Centred and Psychodynamic approaches) CBT and CFT (Compassion-Focussed Therapy) to NHS services and in private practice.
My main areas of expertise are working with:
- Anxiety (specific or generalised anxiety) and issues related to anxiety, such as panic attacks and OCD (when you find yourself uncontrollably repeating tasks, or have repetitive and intrusive thoughts).
- Feeling sad/depression (including manic depression/bipolar)
- Trauma, PTSD (post traumatic stress), attachment trauma
- Issues related to relationships and family
- Working with couples or individuals where one or both are on the autistic spectrum/asperger
- Partners of people on the autism spectrum
- Parents of children with special needs (SEN)
Other common issues I work with are related to anger and low self esteem, which can be distressing and seriously affect our wellbeing.
If you are struggling with issues regarding relationships, you can see me on an individual basis or as a couple, both of which can be helpful. I use a collaborative approach, working together with you to understand what is going on for you and your partner, and what your individual triggers may be. Together we will find ways to overcome obstacles which may prevent you from having a more successful and fulfilled relationship.
Sometimes none of these apply but you may want to understand and improve the way you relate to people in general.
I will listen carefully and support you to explore your current difficulties within a warm and empathic therapeutic environment. Together we will look at ways of dealing with these difficulties in a way that is helpful to you and builds resources for the future.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have facilitated counselling skills and supervision (in psychodynamic therapy, person-centred therapy and in CBT) in the NHS and at university (Counselling Diploma and Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology).
- Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors.
- Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
- Chartered with the British Psychological Society.
- Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) - in recognition of experience and contribution to the field of psychology.
- BACP-accredited Diploma in Integrative Counselling and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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.
British Psychological Society
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I am on the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors and currently supervise within organisations as well as privately.
I supervise qualified counselling psychologists or university students who are studying towards a Masters in Counselling or the Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.
Therapies offered
Fees
£120.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Concessions sometimes available. Please feel free to ask.
I also offer outdoor sessions for £95.
Please feel free to ask about outdoor sessions. In my experience and based on research, they are highly effective.
I believe that it is very important to find the right therapist you feel comfortable and safe with. I therefore offer a free 20 minute initial online session. This is an opportunity for us to meet and see whether we would like to work together without any commitment to further sessions on your part. If we decide to go ahead, we will then find a day, time and venue suitable for both of us.
Please let me know which venue you would like to be seen at when contacting me. I work in Westbury on Trym or Southville.
Further information
I have been an Associate Lecturer (first at the University of South Wales, then at the University of the West of England) for 14 years and have taught on the certificate, the diploma and the professional doctorate in counselling psychology.
I have in-depth experience in working with different therapeutic models, which means that I can tailor my approach to you and your individual circumstances.
I completed additional training courses in areas such as supervision, working with the impact of childhood attachment to adult relationships, couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy, CBT, sexual abuse, eating disorders, bereavement and loss, motivational interviewing, compassion-focussed therapy, working with addictions, bereavement, self esteem and outdoor therapy.
I currently work outdoors with those clients who choose to do this and for whom it is appropriate. This works really well and evidence suggests that outdoor therapy can be extremely beneficial. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more.
Confidentiality:
What we talk about in sessions is strictly confidential (Code of Ethics, Health and Care Professions Council).
Exceptions include any danger of serious harm to yourself or another person and any issues in relation to the protection of children (Children Act 1989, Mental Health Act 1979 and subsequent acts).
Languages: English, German and Spanish.
Disabled access available.
I offer short-term (between 6 and 10 sessions) or longer term counselling depending on your individual needs and circumstances.
