About me — a Horley therapist
When you're choosing a counsellor, it's really important to find the right one for you. To make the decision a little easier, it helps to know something about the person beforehand, so this page explains a little about who I am and what inspires me. If you're looking into counselling, do give me a call. I'm happy to have a phone conversation with no obligation before you go any further.
To see more about the kind of counselling I offer, have a look at my Counselling page.
Why I became a counsellor
My first career was a media director in an advertising agency. It was exciting but high pressured and I saw how stress made really able colleagues miserable and depressed, taking the pleasure out of life. I began doing some voluntary work with Victim Support, the nationally recognised provider of support for victims of crime and saw how just having someone to listen at difficult times made a huge difference.
That experience of helping people made me understand just how valuable it could be to have someone who didn't judge you, to just lend a hand, be there and care through the hard times. I found myself wanting to do more of it, so I trained professionally to be able to offer the best help possible.
Professional Training
My qualifications:
- MSc Psychotherapy - Brighton University
- Postgraduate diploma (Level 7) in Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counselling - Brighton University
- BSc (hons) Psychology First Class Honours - Open University
- BA (hons) English Literature 2:1 - Sheffield University
Also —
Registered member of UKCP- UK Council for Psychotherapy
Registered member of BACP – British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Member UPCA – Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association
I've continued my studies to doctoral level to train as a Counselling Psychologist and have completed a training with Relate as a couples counsellor. As most therapists find, training is ongoing and there are always new areas to learn about and be fascinated by!
Clinical Practice – depression, infertility and other areas
Through the years I've learned to adapt my work to what my clients will find most useful. Sometimes this is open-ended therapy, where we go on meeting until it seems right and comfortable for you to stop. I trained in open-ended therapy in Brighton. I saw people there about many different issues; depression and anxiety, trauma, substance misuse, worries about body image and bullying. I now work privately with clients at Worth Corner Business Centre in Crawley and being part of my client’s progress is incredibly rewarding.
I also offer time-limited therapy. I worked in the NHS in Hove for four years where I provided short-term psychodynamic therapy over a period of eight to ten weeks. In private practice, time-limited work can be aimed at achieving a certain goal. My Counselling page talks more about what psychodynamic therapy is and how time-limited therapy works.
Special interests in counselling
Issues that start in the family are very important to my work. One of my special interests is connected with aspects of miscarriage, infertility and post-natal depression. The hidden sorrows involved in the failure to achieve a much-longed for family and the secrecy and fear around termination and post-natal depression have inspired my research. I also work with people with autism and their families whose experience can be very isolating. It is very inspiring working with such dedicated, caring people.
May I help you?
If you're considering counselling, and you're within reach of Horley or Crawley, it may be helpful to make contact and ask any questions you may have. We can discuss whether counselling may be helpful, who might attend, and so on. Contact me on Email: carmelsmith1@hotmail.co.uk, or telephone 07818 189044.
If you can't get to me for sessions in person, you might consider telephone or remote video counselling sessions, which can work really well.
There's more information about where my counselling room is and how to reach it, fees, and other details, on my Information page.