Neil Smith
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
We are all unique and I believe that tailoring the counselling format to each individual client helps them get the best results possible. So I will collaborate with you right from the start to make sure our counselling relationship works in a way that ensures you feel as safe and supported as possible and so can fully engage to get the most from your sessions. For example:
Would you like to start therapy but feel anxious about a traditional therapy setting? Walk-and-talk sessions (sometimes called Eco-therapy) can offer a more relaxed, natural outdoor setting, combining fresh air and gentle exercise with our conversation.
Do you have limited time/travel constraints/lots of commitments? Online or telephone counselling provides convenient access to support while you remain in the comfort and convenience of your own familiar surroundings. We’ll work together to find a session time that works with your schedule, whether that’s during your lunch break, after the kids are in bed or so on.
Would you prefer a more interactive approach to a session? Creative tools such as games and art activities can help us explore your thoughts and feelings in a less formal way.
Or prefer the traditional therapy setting? I offer traditional face-to-face sessions in a dedicated counselling room in Tamworth town centre, ensuring a safe and confidential space to explore the topics and issues that you would like to work through.
Whichever format you decide upon we will always work collaboratively and at a pace that is right for you.
I have experience supporting people through various difficulties they are facing, including major life events such as bereavement and relationship breakdowns, ongoing issues with anxiety and low self-esteem, and I also have had great success working with people who might not be able to pinpoint the cause of their discontent but know they feel generally unfulfilled or that they're not making the most of their lives.
No matter what you're going through, you'll be met with warmth, respect and compassion. Right now you may be feeling disconnected from yourself, overwhelmed by responsibilities, anxious, angry, constantly on edge or other hard to handle feelings but our work together will be aimed at reducing and reversing these feelings and helping you rediscover a sense of calm, peace and well-being in your daily life.
I am a registered member of the UK’s biggest counselling governing body, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), am fully insured and Enhanced DBS checked. My face-to-face sessions are based in Tamworth, close to Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Atherstone, and Nuneaton. Walk and Talk sessions can be carried out at any safe, and mutually agreed upon, suitable outdoor location within this area. My online/phone sessions are available to clients throughout the UK.
I understand that starting counselling is a big step. That's why I offer a free, no-obligation, introductory 20 minute phone call or video call where we can discuss your needs and how I can help. This is a chance for you to ask any questions you may have about me, my approach to counselling or general questions you may have about therapy. I can be contacted through the "email me" and "call me" links at the top of my profile or you can message me directly on: call 07901 353 199 and I will get back to you within 24 hours.
Whether it be with me or a different counsellor I wish you well on your counselling journey.
Quick note: I have shared some useful resources in the final section (below) that will hopefully help anyone that is totally new to the counselling process and therefore isn't sure what to expect, I know it can be daunting to take those first steps so please check these resources out.
Training, qualifications & experience
- BSc (Hons) Degree in Psychology
- Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- CertHE in Health Care
- OU Certificate in Delivering Online Counselling
In addition to my main qualifications I undertake continuing training in the counselling field to keep abreast of up-to-date developments, theories and techniques. During the past 6 months for example these short courses have included courses on: working with neurodiverse clients, Acceptance and Commitment theory, and Emotional Disorders.
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
£35.00 - £40.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
It is important to me that my sessions are as financially accessible as possible for anyone looking for counselling support, so in addition to keeping the costs down to £40 for in person sessions and £35 for online/phone sessions I also have chosen to provide 60 minute sessions rather than the more common 50 minute duration that is normal for the profession, with the aim of us getting more time together without any extra cost to you each week. I appreciate that everyone's life commitments and therefore their availability is different so I offer daytime, evening and weekend sessions.
Further information
Extra info and resources that may be helpful to you:
Finding the right counsellor is a very personal decision, and it's important to find someone you feel comfortable with. A good therapeutic relationship, where you feel understood and valued, is fundamental to successful therapy. I encourage you to pick several different counsellors that you feel may be right for you and then speak to each of them before making a decision on which one you would like to go with. Finding the right match for you will make a real difference in your progress and ultimate outcomes. I, and most of my peers, offer free introductory calls so please make use of these free calls to find the counsellor that you feel you could best connect with and work with.
I understand that for some clients counselling might be completely new to you and you might not know what to expect, so to help new clients learn more about what counselling is and how it can help you I will share the following documents from the BACP that might be helpful. The first link is an introductory guide to the basics of therapy and offers valuable information about the counselling process, what to expect, and how it might be beneficial for you. The second is a more detailed document which outlines the ethical framework that all counsellors should be working within to ensure your safety and wellbeing as a client, it might not be something you read in full but please check with any potential counsellor that they adhere to an ethical framework.
https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/
