Abby Atkinson-Smith
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I’m Abby, a passionate, empathic, trauma-informed counsellor based in Bristol.
I offer counselling to adults and young people (14+) in Bristol, though I can work online with clients anywhere in the UK. I always aim to provide a warm, non-judgemental, compassionate, and understanding space to share, process, and explore what has brought you to therapy.
I can support clients seeking help with many issues, which I have tried to list below. If you want to know whether I can support you, or if I have not listed what you are seeking counselling for, I would invite you to contact me. My website may also answer any questions you might have: www.counsellingwithabby.co.uk
Inclusivity is one of my strongest values, so I always aim to offer a therapeutic environment that suits your individual needs. We can discuss this in our first session and can return to it throughout our work together. Ensuring you feel safe is always my priority.
As a trauma-informed counsellor, I also appreciate and understand the impact trauma can have. I therefore approach counselling with sensitivity and awareness to avoid re-traumatisation, fostering a safe and supportive environment for you to heal.
Currently, I work with many ADHD and Autistic clients. I believe my practice is well-suited to neurodivergent individuals.
As well as running my Bristol-based private practice, I co-run HappiMe CIC, a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to improve children’s mental health. I also volunteer at SARSAS (Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support), and I am deeply motivated to make a difference to the lives of survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
To understand more about how I work, how I can help, and what sessions with me might look like, I have added some information below. I hope this is helpful!
I appreciate that choosing a counsellor can be tricky and confusing, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
How Do You Work?
As a Humanistic, Person Centred Counsellor, I will offer you a warm, compassionate, and supportive space to explore and process whatever is on your mind or any issues or hurdles you wish to overcome.
For example, you might come to me wanting to manage or heal from anxiety, depression, compulsive or intrusive thoughts, or any other mental health issue. Or, perhaps you are experiencing or have experienced a loss, recent or historic trauma, relationship challenges, or are grappling with parts of your identity, new information, or a diagnosis like ADHD, Autism, OCD, or Chronic Fatigue.
I believe that by building a counselling relationship based on trust, empathy, honesty, and understanding, we can help you reconnect to who you are and the wisdom you have within you. I may offer some advice, if you want it, but much of my work is about you figuring out what you think, how you feel, and what to do with any newfound understandings and self-discoveries.
Whatever you are facing right now. I am here, I see you, and I will be there for you as you work towards your counselling goals.
My website is also full of other useful information about how I work: www.counsellingwithabby.co.uk
What Happens Next?
I always offer a free, no-obligation 15-minute phone or online video call before we start (whatever you are most comfortable with!). It is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other before you pay for any sessions.
I will never ask you to make any decisions regarding working with me on that call. In fact, I will encourage you to take as long as you need to think about whether I am the right therapist for you. If I am not the right fit, I am more than happy to offer guidance on what other routes may be helpful for you, however, if you wish to work with me, we can book your first session whenever you are ready! This booking day/time will generally be the slot you have with me for the duration we work together, though if you ever need to change or swap, I will always do my best to accommodate. I will then send you an email with the link to join our online sessions or the address of my therapy room (depending on which option you choose), along with an invoice requesting advance payment (at least 48 hours before our booking), my T&Cs, and anything else I think could be helpful for you to know. You are welcome to ask any questions you have at any point in this process - I will always try to be prompt when getting back to you.
If you would like to book your free chat, pop me an email, visit my website (www.counsellingwithabby.co.uk), or use the online booking planner on my Counselling Directory profile. I suggest emailing me if a time that suits you isn't listed, as I may have other times available!
What Happens In My First Counselling Session?
The first session is generally a little different to ongoing sessions. We will spend some time going through a ‘Counselling Contract’ - a document outlining how I work and what you can expect from me. We will then discuss what your hopes are for counselling, and if you would like to, set some goals and a rough date of when you might like to review how counselling is going.
Any time remaining can then be spent starting the counselling work together. Some clients start by sharing more of their story, or giving me more background about why they are starting therapy, but there is no right or wrong way to ‘do’ counselling. As long as the session feels helpful and you feel supported, that’s great!
What Does an Average Counselling Session Look Like?
Sessions with me last 60-minutes, though you can end them at any time. At the start of the session, I will check-in and ask how you are, then the rest of the session is yours to explore or bring whatever you want to.
How Long Can I Work with You?
I offer an ‘as long as needed or wanted’ approach, which means you will have full autonomy and control over when the sessions end. Some of my clients work with me for 2-3 months, and others have been in therapy with me for many years - it really does depend on you, your circumstances, and your wishes.
I will aim to check-in regularly so that you have the opportunity to end or change how we work, as I know it can be hard to talk about. I will always make space for you to be honest with me.
What Happens Now?
If you would like to have a free chat to find out whether I am the right counsellor for you, you can visit my website, email me directly, or book via the Counselling Directory’s free booking planner.
Here are my details...
Website: www.counsellingwithabby.co.uk
Thank you for taking the time to read through this information. I wish you the very best on your journey!
Training, qualifications & experience
I am fully insured, a member of BACP, and hold a Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, as well as many other certifications and diplomas, including:
- Diploma in Educational Psychology
- Understanding Neurodivergence
- Confidence Coaching
- Anxiety & Resilience Coaching
- Counselling ADHD and Autistic Clients
- Working with Children and Young People in Counselling
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Practitioner Level 3
CPD is essential to my practice, so I commit to completing at least 40 hours of Continued Professional Development annually, as well as updating my qualifications and certifications whenever necessary.
Member organisations
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£59.50 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I also offer a block booking discount and concessionary rates. Please contact me for more information.
When I work
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I try to be flexible, so if you are seeking sessions outside of the times listed on my profile, pop me an email and I can let you know if this is possible: info@yes-icandoit.com
Further information
I offer online and phone sessions using whatever platform you are most familiar with. I can also offer in-person sessions, though due to booking space, I can only offer a small number of these slots currently. Please reach out if you have any questions.
