Laura Smith MBACP Dip. Integrative Counselling
About me
A warm and compassionate counsellor who offers support in safe and welcoming settings in Braintree town centre. I am a fully insured and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and have particular interests in working with bereavement and loss and anxiety.
MY PHILOSOPHY AND COUNSELLING APPROACH:
I believe we all struggle and feel low at times. Sometimes we know exactly what the problem is, other times it's not clear. I will work with you to get to the bottom of what is bothering you and help you to find a way to move forward with your life. This could take just a few sessions or it could be longer term work. As a humanistic integrative counsellor, I have studied and practised a range of therapeutic approaches and would draw on the techniques that best fit with you. Every person is unique and has had different experiences. My way of working can respond to that.
I offer an empathic and non-judgemental counselling relationship, where you can explore your feelings in ways you may not be able to with family or friends. I see my role as working with you at your own pace and in your own way so that you can perhaps begin to find your own resources and resilience. Counselling can sometimes be challenging and hard work - and enlightening and life changing - but it is always a responsible choice.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Making your first appointment, although daunting, is your first step towards change. You can contact me by e-mail, text or a telephone call for a friendly, informal chat to arrange a suitable time for our first meeting.
Our first session will be an introductory one where we can introduce ourselves, find out about each other and try to determine what you might want and need from counselling. In that consultation, the process of how we might work together will be explained along with the importance of confidentiality and boundaries. You will also have the opportunity to ask any further questions that you may have.
I might ask you to tell me a little of your 'story' and what you believe has brought you to counselling at this point in your life. Finally, we would discuss if counselling is appropriate for you and if so, how we can make it work. If you decide that it is right for you, we would normally expect to meet weekly for 50 minutes on the same day/time for as long as we both feel it useful. Of course we can negotiate the regularity of these sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- BACP Accredited Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Life-force Gold Books Standard)
- BACP Accredited Certificate in Integrative Counselling (Life-force Gold Books Standard)
- Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care
- Certificate in Bereavement Counselling
- Anxiety disorders training
I am an Anxiety UK Approved therapist.
EXPERIENCE:
I have worked in a hospice, an academy school, a residential home for young people experiencing homelessness and in private practice.
I continually strive for ethical practice and am committed to enhancing the service I am able to offer clients. This is achieved through ongoing supervision and continuing professional development, whereby I undertake additional training and attend relevant workshops.
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
- £30 for a 50 minute 1:1 session.
- £20 for initial/assessment session (40 minutes).
A limited amount of reduced rate sessions are available for NHS workers and clients on lower incomes. Please do ask.
I offer daytime and evening appointments Tuesday-Friday.
Further information
I aim to reply to all telephone and email enquiries within 24 hours.
