Rose McIntosh-Smith

Hello you, well done for getting this far. The 'suddenlys' of life can catch us off guard, and sometimes we can cope, and other times ... we just don't. Whether it's a 'suddenly' or a rooted issue, let's talk.

 I know it takes courage to reach out for counselling, I've been there too! Life can throw us many curve balls and although we may turn to friends and family for support, sometimes it's someone completely outside of our situation that can help, with a non judgmental, empathic approach, in a safe environment that enables us to work through our issues.

I believe there is always hope, without hope we can feel hopeless.  John Lennon once said, 'Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end.' This is where counselling can be the right place for us at a time in our lives when hope feels lost. Seeing counselling as a crutch, it helps us through difficult times, a space to lean on in the storms of our life.

It could be that no one is even aware of how you are feeling, emotions and feelings bottled up, needing to be heard. Fears, depression, anxieties, avoidance, painful memories, over bearing loss, low self esteem, relationships, many different reasons, hard to cope with alone.

I have been working in my private practice for 9 years and have created a warm and safe space for you. I have detailed below just some of my experience as a counsellor to give you an idea of my work...

Being female

What an honour to be the female of the species! Being a woman is a gift, but doesn't come without it's struggles. I work with many wonderful girls and women, going through the many stages of life. Some of the issues that we can face are low self esteem, low self confidence, self loathing, anxiety, relationships, being mum, difficult parent/child relationships, divorce and separation, pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, abuse in many forms, and then in midlife ... the big M, menopause. Our second spring, but bringing with it highs and lows. This can be a very difficult and challenging time, hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog to name but a few.  Finding out who we really are and embracing this time can be truly empowering. So ladies, it's looking at your purpose, values and taking back ownership of who you fabulously are!

'The changes, the highs and lows, and the hormonal shifts, there is power in that.'                                                                                                                                                                  Michelle Obama

Young people (11 and above)

In this fast paced world, life can sometimes feel overwhelming. We can find out almost anything from our devices, social media gives 24 hour access to friends or people we follow, its little wonder that it can become all consuming. Challenges in school, making big decisions on where we go next. College, University, work ... wonderful choices to make but at the same time a little scary. 

Friendships, relationships, family issues, break ups, etc, all then added in to the mix. It may be alcohol or substance misuse, self harm, fears, worries. I have worked with young people in Secondary school and in Sixth form for 4 years and in private practice so do understand these really important transitional years. Being young, the best times of our lives apparently! Not always so, but talking our issues through can really help.

'Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come'                                                  Zig Ziglar.

Loss

Our late Queen once famously quoted, 'Grief is the price we pay for love.' This really resonated with me. The loss of someone we love can be one of the hardest things to go through, although it is often finding a new way of living, different, but still encompassing all that our loved one meant to us to truly move forward. I worked as a bereavement counsellor in a Hospice for 2 years and worked through grief and loss with many wonderful people, not only the effects of the loss, but other issues that came forward in their process.
Loss doesn't always mean the loss of someone close through death. Loss can take many forms, the loss of a relationship, loss of a friendship, loss of a career, loss of a home.. there are many losses we experience through life, and working through them could help come to terms with it.

Abuse

'         'I am not what has happened to me. I am what I choose to become.'                                                             Carl Jung

Abuse takes many forms, sexual abuse, recent or historic, domestic abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and the effects of abuse can have a massive impact in our lives, affecting the way we are in relationships and our daily living. Maybe keeping the abuse from others through fear of what they may say or ashamed to let anyone know it exists or existed. I work with survivors of abuse and have much experience in this area.

Getting started

If you would like to contact me, please call or e-mail. We can have an initial chat about what it is you would like to get from counselling and if happy to do so, will arrange your initial session. If you are happy to continue, we can then arrange further sessions.

Finally to say, and important for you to know, I am a registered member of the BACP, I am fully insured and have an enhanced DBS clearance.

My practice is a couple of miles from Uckfield, tucked away in rural surroundings with plenty of parking. A safe place to be heard, surrounded by the peace of the countryside.