Miriam Smith

I am a qualified integrative counsellor, a registered member of the BACP and NCPS and adhere to both the BACP ethical framework and NCPS Code of Ethics. I work relationally and my practice is trauma informed. 

Practically, this means I will work with you as a whole person, paying attention to all the parts of your experience - physical, mental, emotional and social/environmental - to support you to work with whatever issues you bring. As a trauma informed practitioner, I know most people have experienced trauma in their lives, although they may not always think of it like that. I use a phased approach when working with clients who have experienced potentially traumatic experiences, to safely work towards goals, without risking re-traumatisation.

I will warmly welcome and accept you unconditionally – and I will step into your world to understand and appreciate your perspective. I will always offer you honesty and transparency. I am trained to support people in a wide range of situations and to cope with issues like: 

• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Depression
• Self esteem
• Confidence and assertiveness
• Relationship and sexual issues
• The impact of discrimination or minority stress
• Living with the effects of trauma
• Life changes like bereavement, divorce, redundancy, unemployment, or children leaving home.

I believe that, despite having needs we all share, human beings are unique: infinitely varied and complex, so no single specific approach will be suitable for all clients and all situations. By working integratively I am able to blend different theoretical frameworks and their methods to suit your individual needs and circumstances, while a strong therapeutic relationship bridges differences between theories. This offers a flexible and effective way of working with different clients from diverse individual circumstances. I am committed to the concept – supported by the body of evidence - that it is the relationship that heals (Yalom) – so how well we connect and relate to each other will determine the success of our work together.​

I work with individuals and people in relationships of all kinds, who are experiencing difficulties or challenges - or who simply want regular time and support to work on their personal growth. I know there can be as many difficulties and stresses within adult child and parent relationships, between siblings - or friends and business partners, as there can between life partners, so I don't limit my relationship work to specific types of relationship. I am also a kink and LGBTQIA+ aware and positive counsellor.

Finally, I also offer support to businesses in implementing an 'EQ' or psychologically/emotionally informed approach to organisational change and transitions. 

Alongside my practice, I work with a charity supporting victims of sexual violence in Wales and have 3 years’ experience of counselling adults in Wales living with the impact of trauma.

Individual session fee is £50 for the 'clinical hour' - 50 minutes.

Relationship session fee is £90 per 90 minute session.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please enquire about reduced rate sessions. I maintain a limited number of reduced rate appointments which I offer according to priority need.

Key commitments and core values

In accordance with my person-centred core approach, I believe all people are worthy of unconditional positive regard. It is my responsibility as a counsellor to meet you where you are in your life - and to do that I need to be aware of the different lived experiences and needs my clients may have. I hold equality and inclusion as core values which require me to keep my awareness and knowledge of all the different communities I serve, accurate and current.

I will be sincere and honest but I will not impose my judgement, beliefs or personal values on my clients. For example, I am a neurodivergent therapist and I find the awareness my lived experience brings can be helpful to neurodiverse clients. However, while I may draw from my lived experience, if helpful, to make a space where you feel fully seen and heard, I am committed to setting my personal views and beliefs aside while I work with you. Sessions are a space and time where clients can feel safe to explore what is going on for them and use my support to discover their own ways of growing, problem solving, managing or working through difficult situations, times or trauma. For people who come to sessions for support with relationships, this may also include working on how you want to connect - or indeed separate, if that is the decision you make - in ways that are mutually satisfying, or at least acceptable for all parties.

Finally, I think it is really important to mention that it is always okay to say "This isn't for me."  Sometimes a particular way of working doesn't feel helpful or authentic for some clients. Sometimes a particular counsellor is not 'right' for a client - a connection does not form between them which is strong enough to support the work they have come to counselling for. I will always bring any feeling that this may be coming up, into our sessions - and equally, if you do not feel sessions are working for you for any reason, it is important that you honour that feeling and bring it into the room. Talking openly about this can often lead to better outcomes, whether that is within our therapeutic relationship - or by making a considered decision to move towards your goals in a different way.