About me
SMC Counselling
Hi, I’m Shelly.
I’m an integrative counsellor based in Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, working with adults and young people. I work with people from all different backgrounds and with a range of things that might be going on in their lives.
Sometimes you might know exactly what you’re struggling with, and sometimes you might just feel that things aren’t quite right. You might be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or finding it difficult to make sense of what’s going on. Whatever brings you to counselling, you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start.
As an integrative counsellor, I use different approaches depending on what feels helpful for you. I don’t believe counselling should be about trying to fit everyone into the same way of working. We can take our time to work out what feels right for you and what you want from counselling.
I became a counsellor because I wanted to support people through some of the difficult and sometimes complicated times in life. Talking about personal things isn’t always easy, and finding the right person to talk to can make a real difference. I want my clients to feel comfortable being themselves and able to talk openly without feeling judged.
My role isn’t to tell you what you should do. It’s to listen, help you explore what’s going on, and work with you to understand things a little more clearly. Sometimes that might mean looking at patterns in your life, relationships, thoughts and feelings, or simply having somewhere to talk about what’s been happening.
I also offer neurodivergent affirming therapy and aim to make my practice a welcoming and inclusive space for people with different ways of thinking, communicating and experiencing the world.
I want you to feel comfortable talking openly in our sessions, whatever you’re bringing with you. Sometimes it takes a little while to work out where to start, and that’s okay.
Training, qualifications & experience
I work with people experiencing a range of difficulties and challenges. This can include things like anxiety, low confidence, relationships, grief, trauma, or simply feeling stuck or unsure about what comes next.
Some of the areas I work with include:
Anxiety
Depression
Grief and loss
Trauma and PTSD
Complex PTSD
Relationships
Attachment and relationship patterns
Life transitions and change
Low confidence and self-esteem
Neurodivergence
OCD
This list isn’t exhaustive, and you don’t need to see exactly what you’re experiencing listed above for counselling to be helpful. If you’re unsure whether I can help, you’re welcome to get in touch and we can talk about what’s going on during an initial consultation.
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
Additional information
Please don’t hesitate to contact me for information regarding counselling rates. Concessions are available to ensure that support remains accessible to all.
Further information
Shelly has created a safe and nurturing environment, prioritising emotional well-being and resilience. Committed to accessibility Shelly provides face to face and online sessions, ensuring support is available for all.
Free telephone consultation sessions are offered to new clients to ensure suitability
