Gemma Smithson

Welcome, my name is Gemma and I offer short-term and long-term counselling both online and in-person in Nottingham. I understand it can feel very vulnerable to explore counselling and takes courage to reach out. Read on to get a sense of whether I might be the right fit for you and get in touch for a free introductory chat. I currently have spaces on weekday afternoons and evenings.

My Approach

We are complex beings. I believe our past, our here-and-now circumstances, and the wider world we live in are all interconnected. Together they shape us, and the struggles and questions we bring into counselling. 

There may be experiences from your past causing ongoing distress, patterns you notice repeating in the present, or fears about the future. It can feel difficult to change things despite what we notice is going wrong. Often there are processes happening outside of awareness, yet still influencing the situation - my role is to listen, get to know you, and build the kind of relationship together that allows us to uncover some of those unknowns. My approach is to support your understanding and insight, offering a judgement-free space to explore and express yourself. 

Why try counselling...?

Maybe you feel stuck… like you’re spinning your wheels, can’t seem to get going and feel that life is passing you by. Perhaps efforts to change things, make decisions, or get out of a rut haven’t worked so far and you’re becoming frustrated or getting down. Willpower sometimes only gets us so far - counselling can be a space to explore what might be getting in your way.

You might not yet have words for why you’re drawn to try counselling… maybe you just feel like something is ‘off’ or missing. You will be warmly welcomed – finding words together for what is going on for you can be an important part of the process.

Perhaps you’re seeking more, or life is shifting… you don’t have to be in a crisis to try counselling.  It is also a space for self-exploration, deepening your relationship with yourself and others, or talking through a major change in direction or life transition.

How might we work together…?

Getting Started - Send me an email to check things out with no pressure or obligation to proceed. I will reply and we can set up a time for an introductory chat. Based on that we can either make a plan to meet for a full session, or occasionally I may refer on to a trusted colleague if I am unable to meet your needs.

Open ended - In this way of working we do not start out with a fixed end date in mind, but regularly discuss the direction of the work, how things are going, and whether it continues to feel useful for you. This approach works well for most people, whether you have a clear focus or issue, or just want to explore and get to know yourself better.

Shorter term work or counselling over a fixed number of sessions - This approach isn’t suitable for every situation but can work well if… 

• You have a limited budget or limited time and need to plan a specific amount to spend on counselling
• You're unsure if counselling is right for you and would like to try it out before committing to more in-depth work
• You have a specific issue you would like to bring, or would be open to talking together to choose one manageable thing to focus on
• You feel relatively steady and able to ‘hit the ground running’ to get the most out of a few sessions
• You want to use a few sessions to jumpstart work you can continue independently after counselling ends.

Location

I offer sessions online or in-person:

• On Zoom for clients anywhere in the UK (I can offer guidance on getting started with Zoom if you are unfamiliar)
• In-person in a cosy, private room in NG7. Located a short distance from Nottingham city centre, easily accessible by public transport.

• One free-of-charge 20 minute Zoom session or phone call - a chance to introduce ourselves to each other and get a sense of whether it may be possible for us to work together
• £60 per hour - if after an initial chat we agree to work together, sessions will take place weekly for one hour
• Low cost spaces - waiting list currently