Claire Smith
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I work with adults, young people and children from aged 4 as well as families who are having difficulties. I am a BACP registered counsellor and qualified Play Therapist offering face-to-face sessions to those who may be feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed or simply have a feeling that they need support in their lives.
I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of the counselling work and I offer a safe, welcoming environment which is accepting and non-judgemental.
My preferred way of working is using the person-centred approach both within counselling and Play Therapy which means that sessions are led by the individual at a pace which is comfortable for you within your own therapy process. This may be to look at everyday life challenges or more deep-rooted difficulties that you are facing, such as trauma or patterns that have become problematic in your life. By being given a confidential and safe space, the hope is that you can explore your inner world and reach some resolution within your life.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Play Therapy MSC
- Therapeutic Counselling Level 4 Diploma
- Psychology BSc (hons)
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 2
- Theraplay Level 2, MIM, and Group Theraplay
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
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Additional information
I offer a free 30-minute consultation either in person or over the phone without further obligation.
This is an opportunity for you to see if the way I work suits you and explore what has brought you to therapy and to decide the best way forward.
The first session when working with children and young people is utilised by having a conversation with the parent/guardian to gain some further insight into the difficulties seen for the child and to gather some background information around the child and family.
When I work
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Further information
I work from a private, confidential space near the edge of the New Forest near Totton with access to free parking.
As well as a comfortable and relaxed environment for adults, the room is a child-friendly space with various items to use within sessions in a creative, playful manner.
Sessions are face-to-face held on a weekly basis, preferably at the same time each week, but I appreciate that some people need a level of flexibility which is accommodated where possible.
Sessions typically last 50 minutes, but when working with younger children this can sometimes prove to be too long, therefore a shorter session can be arranged on an individual basis when needed.
