Val Smith
About me
Sometimes life events are challenging and can seem a bit overwhelming. You might be feeling at a loss as to what to do. Maybe your mind is full to overflowing with so many mixed emotions just swirling around inside. Perhaps counselling could help?
I can offer you a safe, warm, non-judgemental and confidential space for you to explore what is troubling you. I am an integrative counsellor which means that I like to work in a way which suits you best. Whether that means talking things through; or perhaps looking at more creative ways in order to help you to make sense of whatever is causing distress.
Sometimes negative repeating patterns of thoughts or behaviours can be identified with the aim of working together towards making positive changes to these. Perhaps troubling past thoughts and feelings are popping up and affecting the present? It can be helpful to explore these too if you’d like to.
How I work?
I work with adults (over the age of 18) as an integrative counsellor, which involves a mix of Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I believe that the relationship between counsellor and client is central to bringing about effective change. I would seek to journey with you in exploring your inner thoughts and feelings as you look for answers. I have varied experience (detailed below) and work with many issues in counselling, including: Depression, anxiety, relationship issues, anger, bereavement/loss, stress, abuse and others.
I am happy to offer counselling sessions via online video-call or telephone. I also offer face-to-face sessions with appropriate Covid-19 safeguards in place. Please let me know which way you’d prefer to have sessions when you contact me.
Counselling sessions usually take place on a weekly basis and each session lasts 50 minutes. The first session is a time of exploration where we can get to know each other and would help you to decide if I would be the right counsellor to help you. I’d be interested in finding out what you would like to achieve from counselling and would explain how the counselling process works. Some clients prefer a short-term approach, whilst others find it beneficial to take sessions on a longer-term basis.
I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Training/Qualifications
- BA Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Distinction), Glasgow Caledonian University
- Registered and Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Vital Connexions, Edinburgh: COSCA validated Diploma in Counselling
- The Centre of Therapy, Glasgow: SCOTACS CBT Toolkit SVQF Level 8
- Quiet Waters, Falkirk: Introduction to Counselling
- Experience
- Private Practice
- Hope Counselling Aberdeen: Centre Director; Counsellor and Student Mentor
- Robert Gordon’s University: Student Counsellor
- NHS GP referrals counselling (Mearns Counselling Kincardineshire Community Hospital Stonehaven)
- Cairns Counselling Aberdeen:Counsellor
- Quiet Waters Falkirk: Telephone Counsellor offering a listening service to those with life issues
Member organisations
Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
EAP enquires are welcome £45 per session.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Additional information
Fee per 50 minute session
Initial Session: £35.00
Subsequent Sessions: £45
Cancellation policy
No charge is made if an appointment is cancelled with at least 48 hours’ notice. A 50% charge will usually be levied for cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice, with 100% charge levied for cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice.
Availability
- Monday to Thursday days, plus limited evening slots.
Culloden and Inverness city centre locations available.
Further information
I hold a current PVG Disclosure Scotland check.
Culloden location - free parking.
Inverness - nearby paid parking; rail links.
Bus service available both sites.