Ginny Usher-Smith
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Does life feel overwhelming? Perhaps you are at a crossroads in your life, feeling stuck, lost, not feeling happy or fulfilled, feeling isolated and unsure of future decisions. I am an experienced psychodynamic psychotherapist and by working together I can help you, in the counselling room, to try and find meaning and understanding, to make sense of how you are feeling and help you to navigate a way through life’s challenges.
Whether this is your first time looking for a therapist or returning to seek counselling, it can seem daunting in making that first step to ask for help and deciding which therapist/counsellor to contact in order to do so. It can take courage to ‘open up’ to someone and share deeply personal experiences which have often been suppressed for many years.
I offer a confidential and safe space where you can say how you really feel, a time for reflection, where you feel heard, listened to and supported with empathy, in a non-judgemental way.
In my practice, I work with individuals who are facing a wide range of challenges/problems and life struggles. For example, I can help with anxiety, depression, all issues relating to addiction whether you are an addict yourself or are currently affected by someone close to you who is an addict. Many of my clients have sought help as they are going through life transitions such as relationship/marriage break ups, divorce, career changes, relocation, parenting, motherhood, ill-health or bereavement, often suffering from unprocessed grief and/or past personal traumas.
How counselling can help
Psychodynamic counselling focuses on understanding and working with the root causes of emotional or mental health difficulties or distress that can often stem from or be influenced by early experiences. We can work together to understand your personal difficulties, process experiences and emotions and explore different responses to them.
Through our sessions you will gain insight into your inner world and unconscious processes and try to connect or identify any unhealthy patterns or behaviours which might be repeated and brought into your life today. This exploration will empower you with a greater level of self-awareness in the hope to move forward in making healthy decisions, which in turn will increase your self-confidence and resilience.
We can consider what will help you to make positive changes and move forward in life. The counselling sessions can be a time to look at things from a different perspective, gain strength with the hope to find a happier and healthier way of being with clarity and hope for the future.
I hope you will find the following client testimonials helpful:
Client testimonials:
(All names have been changed in line with confidentiality)
'I would like to say what an amazing therapist Ginny is - she is both kind and caring but also encourages you to think proactively about how you can make positive changes and decisions whilst together exposing patterns - I had many aha moments within the therapy sessions - Ginny came into my life at a time where there was much confusion and fear and truly was a beacon of light - thank you Ginny’ (Sam)
'When I began my sessions with Ginny, she provided a very comfortable and relaxed environment. I soon felt at ease and able to trust her, and discuss a number of long standing and deep rooted issues that have affected my life.
Ginny is a great listener, and asked lots of questions to really understand me, and was never judgemental. Once Ginny identified the root causes, she helped me come to terms with them and suggested simple, positive steps to move forward.
Thank you so much Ginny!
(Adam)
'Ginny is an amazing counsellor/therapist, she helped me to go right through my past and enabled me to identify and understand my anxiety. She has equipped me with so many tools that I know will help me for the rest of my life'. (Jane)
'Thank you for all you have done for me Ginny, you have helped me more than you can imagine' (Becky)
'Thank you so much for all your support our sessions have helped me so much and I have learned alot about myself' (Sophie)
'Thank you so much for all your care and guidance over the last 7 months. I will be forever grateful for your wonderful advice and encouragement. You have changed my life! No words can express how thankful I am' (Chelsea)
'I am very thankful for all the work you have done and helping me out a lot, I felt really at ease after our talks and made me feel a lot better' (Max)
The next step - what to expect in your first session
I offer a free initial telephone consultation up to 15 minutes where you can tell me what brings you to seek therapy and I can answer any questions that you might have.
Following this, we can arrange your initial assessment which will last 50 minutes which will be the length of time for each subsequent counselling session. This first session will be more comprehensive for me to find out more about what brings you to counselling and the difficulties you are facing. This will support me in understanding you. I will also explain the practicalities of how I work and together we can decide if we will be ‘a good fit ‘ and if we decide to move forward and start your future therapy sessions.
I work from two comfortable, dedicated private counselling centres in Great Dunmow and Stansted Mountfitchet where there is accessible, convenient parking. I also offer online face-to-face sessions via zoom.
Training, qualifications & experience
My training & qualifications:
- MA – Psychodynamic Counselling (now named Psychotherapy) – The University of Essex: (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Accredited Training Course).
- Diploma in Counselling Skills - Chelmsford Counselling Foundation
- Certificate in Counselling Skills – Chelmsford Counselling Foundation
Professional Membership:
Registered Member of the BACP
I am committed to ethical, non-discriminatory practice and I have regular professional supervision.
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
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
The 50 minute initial assessment and the subsequent therapy sessions are £60 per session.
Concessions may be available depending on your personal circumstances.
I work with clients aged 18 and over.
When I work
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Please contact me via email or phone to check my availability.
