Laura Smith

A warm and compassionate counsellor who offers support in safe and welcoming settings in Braintree town centre.  I am a fully insured and accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and have particular interests in working with anxiety, bereavement and loss, trauma and traumatic bereavement.

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.