Charlie Gould-Smith
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Hi, I am Charlie, pronouns she/her.
One of the hardest things to do in life is admit we need help and then to reach out for it. Reading this means you have done one of those things and are hoping to do the other. There are times in life or things we experience which we can really struggle with emotionally. At times like this it can be useful to talk to someone. Talking to friends or family can be difficult as we may not want to burden them, or maybe they feel too close to the situation, or maybe you need or want some space to work out your own thoughts, feelings and what you need to do for yourself.
I am a Person Centred counsellor. At its core Person Centred counselling has a belief that everyone has an innate ability to grow, develop and change; to allow them to know themselves better and to make the best decision for them when given the right space in which to do that. It is my job to create that space.
During a session I aim to create an accepting, safe and supportive environment where you can explore whatever you want and need to, there is no subject, situation or feelings that are off limits, anything and everything is welcome. I will listen with understanding, empathy and acceptance and hope to create a warm, genuine, and honest therapeutic relationship, that will allow you to explore everything you want to and empower you to make decisions that will benefit you the most.
I believe that you are the expert in your own life and whatever you need to explore I will walk side by side with you in that exploration. I cannot fix things, I cannot wave a magic wand and make everything better, I and probably all therapist wish we could. But together we will: work collaboratively through what needs working through in that safe, accepting and supportive space; allow you to explore your inner world; find the answers or solutions, and empower you to make the decisions and take the action that will most benefit you.
My Practise
General
I can work with a wide range of subjects such as: depression; anxiety; suicide; self-harm; eating disorders; trauma; stress; grief and bereavement; loss; managing emotions and behaviour; sexual identity; low self esteem, and relationship issues as well as many more.
Confidentiality
One of the most crucial parts of any therapeutic relationship is confidentiality. Anything that you share with me is kept confidential unless I have concerns about harm to yourself or others, but if I needed to break your confidentiality I would work with you in doing that, to ensure the best and safest outcome for all.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 5 - Diploma in Person Centred Counselling
- Level 3 - Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Level 2 - Introduction to Counselling
I can work with a range of clients and issues including: depression; anxiety; stress; managing emotions and behaviour; sexual identity; gender identity including: non-binary, transgender or non- conforming; supporting friends, family and loved ones of those exploring their gender identity; bereavement; low self esteem, and relationship issues.
LGBTQIA+ Community
Our identity is fundamental to who we are and it is something that is continually changing and developing as we go through life. A key part of identity is how we identify and relate to our gender and sexuality. How we identify with and relate to those things are different for each of us and can vary day to day, moment to moment. Wherever you are in that journey and wherever that exploration may take you, I will hold that space for you, accept you and value you; because everyone deserves to have their identity respected, recognised and valued.
I have volunteered with Beyond Reflections (a gender identity charity) as a counsellor since 2020. As part of my work their I have gained further understanding and insight into the unique and specific issues facing, specifically the trans, non-binary, non-conforming community and their friends and loved ones, but the wider LGBTQIA+ community as well. I am committed to continual development to ensure I can provide a safe, accepting space, where the work can be focussed on my clients and their exploration.
Grief, Bereavement and Loss
Greif is an intensely personal thing for each of us and what may feel normal and natural to one person will feel alien to another; some things feel normal and ok, others don’t. As with all my clients I work to ensure a space that feels safe, supportive and accepting of whatever needs to be bought in it, and that space will be different for each client and there needs.
I worked with Cruse Bereavement Support throughout the covid pandemic as bereavement support volunteer. Through this I witnessed and learned not just how unique grief is to each of us in our experience and expression of it; but also the affect that Covid- 19 had on people’s experience and expression of grief.
Teaching
I teach as I practise therapy- I am led by my students. There is a curriculum, but within that I allow my students to explore the areas they are most drawn to. I trust them that they know what they want and need to learn. I aim to facilitate my students learning, engagement and development; and most importantly I want to empower them to become the best people and therapists they can be.
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
£50.00 per session
Free initial online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Some concession rate sessions are available at £35.
When I work
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I work in Southampton and on the Isle of Wight. If you would like in person sessions please let me know where you are based to ensure we arrange the most appropriate support for you.
