Chris Smith

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he/him
PNCPS (Acc.), BA (Hons), PGCE

About me

I am a caring and supportive, trauma informed Psychotherapist and EMDR specialist. I work with a wide range of issues, including; anxiety, trauma, self esteem, family issues, relationships, anger & depression.

You may need to simply find compassion and acceptance for yourself, understand yourself more, develop better self support and coping strategies, or actively work to change behavioural patterns, transform distress emotions and long held emotional traumas. As a skilled and qualified integrative psychotherapist, I can offer a range of different approaches, tailored specifically to help you, according to whatever you feel you need at the time.

So what does a typical  session with me involve? Mostly a lot of active listening from me, a safe space for you to explore emotions and thoughts without judgement. When talking isn't enough, I often use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), and sometimes also Gestalt, CBT or creative interventions. Whichever approach I use will depend on what the client wants and needs from the sessions.

One of the most important aspects of my approach, is that of helping the clients to feel safe and 'grounded', not just with me in the sessions, but also within themselves. This is the process of learning to 'regulate the nervous system', and is the foundation 'stone' on which real progress can be built.

Sometimes I work outdoors with clients, using contact with nature as part of the healing process. This can simply meaning taking a walk outside during counselling, or it can mean using creatively interacting with nature as part of the process. 

Through exploring your issues, we will find which techniques and approaches are best suited to helping resolve your issues.

I am a fully qualified Psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience. I am trauma informed and experienced in working with neurodivergence. I am also a qualified teacher and have taught, designed and assessed counselling and psychotherapy courses for a number of years.

I am also the founding director of The New Futures Academy, an outdoor education and wellbeing project for young people in South Devon, for which I run a youth mentoring programme and also host craft, nature connection and wellbeing events for adults. 

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications:

  • Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Counselling, Dartmoor Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy 
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Post 16) 
  • Part One - Training in EMDR, Philip Manfield Training

Experience:

  • March 2014 - Present Day (Ongoing) - Integrative Counsellor in Private Practice (Self-Employed) 
  • April 2014 - August 2019: Counselling Tutor, Heartwood, Dartington Devon: 
  • April 2014 - August 2019: Workshop Tutor, Heartwood, Dartington Devon: CPD workshops on Nature Based Therapy,
  • Oct. 2012 – April 2014: Voluntary Counselling Placement at Checkpoint, Torquay and Dartmoor Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Newton Abbot
  • 2011 & 2013 - 2 years study at Westcountry School of Myth with Dr Martin Shaw
  • 2004 - 2023 - Part-time Course Leader, Art & Photography, Plymouth College of Art

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

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.

NCPS
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society

Areas of counselling I deal with

Photos & videos

Fees

£70.00 per session

Additional information

I offer concessions

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

DBS check

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Online platforms

FaceTime
Google Meet
Whatsapp
Zoom
Bilateral Base