Dr Ruth 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
I understand that trying to find a therapist can sometimes be overwhelming and confusing and I hope that this will help to ease the process.
I strongly believe that therapy can be transformative, allowing people to heal past pains and work through present difficulties. To do this, I prioritise the "therapeutic relationship'" creating a safe space where you will feel heard, accepted and not judged. I am a registered accredited member with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and follow their ethical guidelines.
I am a trained integrative therapist; this means that I work in a way that is right for you. Some people want to focus on a present issue whereas others want to explore past experiences and the impact these are having in their current life. The therapy will go at a pace that suits you to enable you to feel emotionally safe and authentically heard.
I am passionate about social justice and human rights. As a person with a long-term chronic illness (ME), I understand the importance of being truly seen and understood, especially when we live in a society where those things are not always present.
I believe that both personal experiences and systemic inequalities have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing; I am an antiracist and LGBTQIA+ ally and disability inclusive.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a:
- PhD in Social Justice (I did counselling based research).
- Masters in Counselling & Psychotherapy Practice.
- Foundation Degree in Counselling.
I have also trained with the world-renowned trauma psychotherapist Babette Rothschild in Somatic Trauma Therapy.
I can provide therapy for a range of concerns so please contact me, because no problem is too big or too small if it is troubling you.
I have a specialism in working with survivors of:
- Domestic abuse
- Domestic violence
- Coercive control
- Sexual abuse
- Sexual violence
- Sex trafficking
- FGM
In addition to providing therapy for survivors of abuse and violence, I have previously worked in women's refuges and worked for Welsh Women's Aid in the training department writing and delivering their national training programmes. I've also provided therapy for refugees and asylum seekers, specialising in work with survivors of war, torture and human trafficking.
I have worked and volunteered as a therapist for third sector organisations, providing long and short term therapy.
I have also worked as an academic lecturer, teaching counselling and sociology, published articles related to counselling and psychotherapy and I also provide guest lecturing.
My most recent article on domestic abuse and coercive control is available from the European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy website.
Member organisations
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.
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
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I have worked with refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced war, torture, genocide, modern day slavery and sex trafficking. I have also worked with interpreters.
I also provide guest lecturing and training - please see my website for details.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
If you feel unable to pay the £60 fee, please contact me as I offer a limited number of consesscionary spaces for keyworkers, unemployed and counselling students.
Choosing the right therapist is an important decision, for this reason I offer a free 20 minute telephone consultation to answer any questions you might have. There is no obligation to book a session with me after our telephone consultation. Please email, text or WhatsApp me to arrange this.
When I work
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Further information
Please feel free to contact me so we can explore whether I am the right therapist for you. You can contact me via phone, text, WhatsApp or email.
