Peter Smith

Hello and thank you for viewing my profile. I am a person-centred counsellor and mindfulness-based therapist living in Somerset and I offer online counselling and supervision to clients in the UK from the comfort of their own home. My therapeutic approach combines person-centred counselling, mindfulness and Buddhist psychology and I specialise in working with depression, anxiety, stress, bereavement, relationships, anger, addiction, low self-esteem and spiritual dilemmas. I offer a free half hour introductory call so you can see if we are compatible before deciding about counselling.

Counselling can provide you with an opportunity to reflect upon your life and to consider what changes might help you move towards a better future. During the therapeutic process you will discover that while life happens 'out there' it's how we respond to it internally that ultimately defines us. Some of the issues that clients bring to counselling involve intrusive thoughts, overwhelming emotions, or impulsive patterns of negative behaviour. Sometimes these can be triggered by external events such as the cost of living crisis, war, or climate change; while on other occasions they may result from personal difficulties such as unemployment, ill health, trauma or financial issues. Often several events will combine to cause a crisis which can then overwhelm us. 

Seeking help means first acknowledging your vulnerability and then being willing to face the unknown both of which take courage. The first step is to find the right therapist for you which can also be confusing and difficult. Hence I offer a free introductory meeting so you can ask any questions and see if you feel comfortable before choosing to begin counselling.  We will also discuss the different methods of online therapy (video, text, email, or phone) to see which might work best for you. 

Research has shown that online counselling is just as effective as in-person counselling and for many people there are distinct advantages to working online because:

• It is a way of accessing counselling that would otherwise be unavailable 
• It is more convenient  
• There is no need to make other arrangements (e.g. childcare, travel, etc.)
•   All you need is a broadband connection and a private place where you feel  comfortable talking personally 
• It gives a greater sense of anonymity 
• There are no geographical limits for clients who are not close enough for face-to-face sessions or are physically unable to travel 
• It removes the stigma of physically attending a counselling session 

PERSON-CENTRED COUNSELLING

My initial training was in person-centred counselling which is a 
collaborative process in which the client sets the agenda. This means that together we will focus on developing your awareness, understanding and trust in your own emotional resources and on helping you to make the necessary changes to achieve your own fulfilment in life. The aim is for you to feel happier and more positive by processing blocked emotions so that you can be more emotionally open and in tune with yourself and with others.  
  
MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness practices are simple attention exercises that increase our awareness by focusing on the present moment and directly observing our experiences without analysing or judging them. By monitoring our mental processes non-conceptually in this way we also gain valuable self-knowledge and learn how to regulate our moods and increase our mental balance and equilibrium. It teaches us to prevent minor irritations from developing into uncontrolled anger or from worrying oneself into a full-blown panic attack. 

SUPERVISION

I provide online supervision to qualified and student counsellors, as well as supporting those practitioners who are working towards accreditation or an academic qualification.  I trained in the Hawkins & Shohet model of supervision (aka the Seven-Eyed Model) which offers a practical framework that focuses on seven different aspects of the relationship between the client/supervisee and the supervisee/supervisor and the organisational context of the therapy. If you are looking for an approachable and supportive supervisor I'd be happy to have an informal discussion with you about your supervision needs.

FEES

I offer a free introductory half hour  and then if you want to begin counselling or supervision we will make an appointment for your first weekly session and then you will have regular sessions until you are ready to finish.
The fee for individual counselling is £50 per hour-long session. 
Individual supervision is £60 per hour, or £75 for one and a half hours.

HOW TO PAY

• Sessions are paid for in advance when you book an appointment.
• Payment is made by Bank Transfer.
•  Please give at least 48 hrs notice to cancel a session in which case you can either re-schedule it or I will refund your money. 
• Sessions can be invoiced weekly or monthly, according to your preference.
   
   
   

• Individual Counselling Online: £50 per hour
• Individual Supervision Online: £60 per hour, or £75 per hour and a half 

Reduced fees are available for trainee counsellors, key workers, OAPs and those on a low income

• Reduced fee for Individual Counselling Online: £30 per hour
• Reduced fee for Individual Supervision Online: £35 per hour