Claire Smith
Registered Member MBACP
Contact information
Therapist - Aldershot
Aldershot GU12
Sessions from £60.00
Features
- Concessionary rates
Availability
I have daytime availability between 10am and 2pm both online and face to face at my beautiful, rural treelined room in Runfold, Surrey. Limited availability at my space in Stoughton, Guildford on Wednesday evenings.
About me and my therapy practice
I believe that therapy works best when you feel comfortable enough to be yourself. My approach is warm, down-to-earth and non-judgemental, and I aim to create an environment where you can talk openly without feeling that you need to have the right words or know where to begin.I work integratively, which means I draw on different therapeutic approaches depending on you and what you need. My work is primarily informed by person-centred therapy, psychodynamic thinking and attachment theory. Rather than following a set programme, we work together at your pace and explore what feels most important to you.
Sometimes this might involve looking at what is happening in your life right now. At other times, we may explore earlier experiences, relationships or patterns that continue to affect how you feel about yourself and others today. Understanding where certain feelings, behaviours or ways of coping have come from can often help us begin to make sense of them and consider what might need to change.
I don't see myself as the expert on your life, and I won't tell you what you should do. Instead, I offer curiosity, honesty and compassion, helping you explore your thoughts and feelings and develop a greater understanding of yourself.
I also work with young people aged 11+, adapting therapy to suit their age, personality and communication style. Talking face-to-face isn't always the easiest way for a young person to express themselves, so sessions can include creative activities and other ways of communicating where appropriate. There is never any pressure to talk before they are ready.
Whether you are struggling with anxiety, low mood, relationships, self-esteem, difficult experiences, feeling overwhelmed, or simply knowing that something doesn't feel right, you don't need to arrive with everything figured out. We can start wherever you are
Practice description
Starting counselling can feel daunting, particularly if you have never had therapy before or find it difficult to talk about yourself. My aim is to make the process feel as comfortable and straightforward as possible.My practice is warm, relaxed and welcoming. I am not a formal therapist and I believe that being genuine and human is an important part of building a trusting therapeutic relationship. You won't be expected to sit down and immediately talk about your deepest feelings. We will take time to get to know one another and work at a pace that feels manageable for you.
You can expect me to listen without judgement, but I won't simply sit silently and nod. I am an engaged therapist and will respond, ask questions, gently challenge when it may be helpful and share observations that might help you see things from a different perspective.
There is no set agenda that you have to follow. Some sessions may feel quite focused, while others might involve simply having somewhere to put everything that has been building up. You are welcome to bring whatever feels important that day.
I understand that finding the right counsellor is important. The relationship between us matters, so our early sessions are also an opportunity for you to decide whether I feel like the right person for you.
Above all, my practice is a place where you can come as you are. You don't need to have everything worked out, know exactly what you want from counselling, or worry about saying the wrong thing. We can begin with what is happening for you now and work from there, together.
My first session
I don't carry out a formal assessment during your first session. I believe that counselling is a relationship, and our first meeting is simply an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another.There is no expectation for you to tell me your whole story or talk about anything you aren't ready to explore. You can go at your own pace, and we can start with whatever feels comfortable and important to you.
I understand that walking into a counselling room for the first time can feel daunting. You might know exactly what you want to talk about, or you may have absolutely no idea where to start 鈥� both are completely okay.
I'll help the conversation along where needed, and there won't be any pressure to fill silences or find the "right" words. Over time, as trust develops between us, we can begin to explore things more deeply.
The first session is also your opportunity to get a feel for me and the way I work. Finding a counsellor you feel comfortable with is important, and you are under no obligation to continue if you don't feel that I am the right fit for you.
Most importantly, you set the pace. We start where you are and take it from there.
What I can help with
Abuse, ADD / ADHD, Addictions, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Bereavement, Child related issues, Coercive control, Depression, Identity issues, Loss, Menopause, Men's issues, Mood disorder, Narcissism, Neurodiversity, Obsessions, OCD, Pet bereavement, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Service veterans, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Stress, Substance Dependency, Trauma, Women's issues, Work related issues
Types of therapy
Integrative, Person centred, Psychodynamic
Clients I work with
Adults, Children, Older adults, Young people
How I deliver therapy
Long term sessions, Long-term face-to-face work, Online therapy, Short term sessions, Short-term face-to-face work, Time-limited
Languages spoken
English