Ela Smith

I am an accredited, qualified Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, committed to providing an accepting and caring space for you to explore what you are struggling with. I have found that when you feel valued and understood by someone, you naturally become better at being able to offer that to yourself. I prioritise working to build trust, so I can be there to support you through painful and vulnerable moments. I believe that therapy can be a place where you get to explore parts of yourself that you might not often get to express. I have extensive experience working with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and sexual trauma. 

How I work

The type of psychotherapy I practice is Humanistic which values you as an equal and an active part of the therapy treatment. In our work together, you can decide the pace and depth of what you want, and I will be there to support you in trusting what feels right for you. 

I trained in Gestalt, Person-Centred and Transactional Analysis therapies, so I integrate a range of theoretical and creative tools but tailor the approach to what is useful for you, and provide a genuine, candid space for you to talk openly. 

Many of us learn growing up that some of our needs or feelings are unacceptable, or shameful and so we find it hard to accept them in ourselves. We can end up feeling stuck, wondering why we keep repeating the same patterns or feeling overwhelmed. This isn’t because there is something ‘bad’ about us. It is based on ways we have used to cope and survive. Together, I aim to help you make sense of yourself and what you’ve lived through. I hope to find ways that allow you to feel authentic and comfortable in who you are. 

Starting Therapy Together

If you are interested in exploring what it might be like to work with me as your therapist, please get in touch by emailing me. It might feel daunting starting therapy, but I will aim to make our first session as comfortable and supportive as I can. We can have an open conversation that lets me find out what’s brought you this point and what you are hoping for. 

You will be able to ask me any questions or tell me any concerns you might have, as well as get a feel for if my approach is the right one for you. You might want to commit to a limited number of sessions, or you may want a more open-ended approach. We can discuss what works for you and agree an initial counselling contract. Together, we can regularly review your progress, how you are finding therapy, and any new areas you might want to work on. 

£65 for a 50 minute session