Phyllis Smith

I see most of my clients on Zoom/by phone but I also have limited slots for in-person counselling.  

Who am I?

I am an accredited member of BACP, specialised in anxiety and depression.  I am also very interested in multicultural issues and health anxiety issues. Having lived in Hong Kong previously and now in England, I have met people from all walks of life and from all around the world. I am interested in psychology and counselling, and in people. I am also a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists. I can speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Why counselling may help?

Counselling is a talking therapy whereby the counsellor will provide a safe space to listen to your emotional issues and try to understand the different threads in your life that might have contributed to the emotional distress you are experiencing now.  The therapy process itself could be like a bridge for you to offload or process your issues but also to find a different perspective to approach life or look at personal issues.   The ultimate aim is to facilitate some useful changes in life when you are ready to do so. 

Uncertainty is one of the main factors that triggers anxiety.  Counselling could provide a space for you to offload and process those anxious thoughts and to explore some useful coping strategies to deal with struggles in life.

Counselling can be a daunting experience, especially if you haven't done it before. It is my job to reassure you at our initial assessment session that counselling is what you are seeking and if not, I may be able to signpost you on to other agencies. The initial assessment session is also an opportunity for us to meet and understand a bit about each other, have a preliminary discussion of the issues you want to focus on and for you to decide whether we can work together in this collaborative partnership.

I provide counselling to your best interests with the ultimate goal that you will be able to understand more about yourself and the situations you are in, to develop insights about your own issues, and eventually to make changes that may transform your lives in the longer term.

I offer short-term (just a few sessions) and long-term counselling (open-end). The duration is to be discussed between you and me and will be reviewed regularly. Each session lasts for 50 minutes.  Counselling can be conducted in person or via Zoom.

If you are not sure whether counselling is for you and what counselling is about, please feel free to contact me for a chat; there is no obligation to commit to it until and unless you feel sure.

What are my special interests?

Multi-cultural issues - Having lived in another country before, I have developed a strong interest in other cultures and the impact of cultural difference on people. My cosmopolitan experience also makes it easy for me to understand the negative thoughts and feelings of people living and working in the UK, e.g. issues with integration, identity and cultural barriers. I am also experienced in cross-cultural issues relating to second and third generations.

University student work - I am currently working as a counsellor at Cambridge University Counselling Service where I work with undergraduate and postgraduate students on issues such as perfectionism, Imposter Syndrome, stress, anxiety, depression, identity and relationship issues.  My warm and compassionate approach helps me to establish a good rapport with students and the use of CBT tools has been proven to be helpful to them.

Health-related issues - I have an amateurish interest in medicine and a passion in helping patients who are going through procedures, diagnostics and treatments and the aftermaths of illnesses and are experiencing a mixture of feelings such as anger, shock, fear, health anxiety and depression due to a medical condition or illness. I have worked in various roles in Addenbrooke’s Hospital and have substantial experience working with clinical psychologists, consultants, nurses and patients.

Mental health issues - I have completed a Mental Health First Aid course and I have had training in mental health first aid and SAGE and THYME® which enable me to identify and support patients with emotional distress. It is estimated that 1 in 6 people experienced ‘common mental disorder’ such as anxiety and depression, I believe that it’s my mission as a counsellor to contribute my expertise to help people to manage their mental health better.

Adjustment issues as new emigrants

Identity issues as second/third generation emigrants

For individuals: £50 per session (50 minutes per session). Payment to be made via bank transfer in advance of each session

I am fluent in English and Chinese (both Cantonese and Mandarin) and I can provide counselling in either language as you prefer. I also have a diploma in French.