Catherine Walford 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
You don't have to cope alone...
Reaching out for help can be tough but it’s an important first step to feeling better. I'm a fully qualified counsellor offering a place to explore, understand and share your difficulties.
I can provide you with a warm, non judgemental space where you can feel heard and understood. Having dedicated time to reflect on your life with a trained counsellor can help you make sense of why you might be feeling the way you do, your relationships, and what's important to you now and in the future.
Where do you go from here?
I offer counselling across all three mediums, in person, online or by telephone. I have a comfortable and confidential counselling room which is easily accessible with free, on-site parking. I also offer online and telephone counselling to enable the session to be held from the comfort and convenience of your own home, or any other private space that works for you.
I find that clients value flexibility and convenience so I am able to respond to this by giving you the option of how you would like to have your therapy week to week. You may want to start by having in person counselling and as the relationship progresses, move to online - or vice versa.
Each session is 50 minutes and I see most clients on a weekly basis.
Contact me now for a free 20 minute consultation.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Integrative.
- Registered member of the BACP (The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).
- Two years working at Trust House, a counselling service supporting victims and survivors of sexual abuse and rape.
- Ex volunteer for Mind supporting clients to finding the right type of support for their mental wellbeing.
- Ex volunteer for Samaritans, supporting callers in severe emotional distress.
- Personal experience of bringing up two children.
- 19 years building a career in a corporate environment.
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
£60.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Additional information
I offer a free consultation session which can be in person, online or over the phone. You can also send me an introductory email if you prefer. There is no obligation to continue but that first contact is important for me to understand what you are going through so that I work out how I can best support you. I will also answer any questions you might have for me.
If we decide to work together, we will reach a mutual decision about when and how often to meet, what you hope to achieve and in roughly what time frame.
If I don’t think I am a good match for what you need, I will be honest with you and I may be able to recommend alternative options.
When I work
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My working days for private clients are Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am - 9pm, and Thursdays 9-5pm.
Further information
What type of counsellor am I and what can you expect?
I work 'integratively' which means I use a combination of Person-Centred and Psychodynamic therapy. I will work with whatever you choose to bring each session and you will very much be at the heart of what we do. We may also look back at significant events or relationships from your past which can help us to build a clearer picture of how things have been, how they are today and finally how you would like them to be moving forward.
I believe counselling works best when it's collaborative; whilst I will give you the time and space to explore I will also gently challenge you to look at where you may be unintentionally holding your self back or repeating unhelpful patterns.
With the right support, I regularly see clients making the changes they want and build their resilience for the future, carving out a life they love.
I am also a member of the BACP who are the leading professional association for counsellors and I work in line with their code of professional ethics.
