Stephanie Smith

My office hours are usually Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. 

I offer face-to-face and online counselling from my independent practice in Lymington, Hampshire.

Do your thoughts and feelings seem to get in the way of living a meaningful life? Perhaps you're not doing things that matter to you because anxiety, depression, negative thinking stops you? This is common for all of us.

To live a meaningful life, we must be willing to experience uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and sensations. I help clients develop this willingness.

My Integrative training had led me to draw on several therapies to best address your individual needs - amongst other approaches, this includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). 

I have experience and training working with both adults and young people (14+) on a range of issues including relationships and families, attachment and developmental trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, anger, self-esteem and confidence, major life changes, bereavement, etc.

Working as a Counsellor gives me great satisfaction by helping clients:

· improve quality of life and gain a greater sense of identity

· learn to interact with thoughts differently, including mindfulness skills and gratitude

· fully experience their feelings rather than bury or control them

· practice acceptance of the things/events that are beyond our control

· explore values to guide life's choices and live a more meaningful life

· enjoy more enriching and successful relationships

· develop coping skills to deal with past issues or current problems, including those arising from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

I have a special interest and extensive exprience working with early life, developmental, complex trauma. 

I am a registered Adoption Counsellor with LINK/Barnardo's and can offer a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) informed practice for families living with issues regarding attachment trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs. I am a mid-way certified DDP Practitioner. DDP is informed by Dan Hughes' PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) and focuses on Therapeutic Parenting.

I am also a qualified Eye Movement and Desensitisation (EMDR) Practitioner. EMDR is particularly helpful for clients with early life trauma and ACEs. EMDR facilitates the brain’s natural information processing system, helping reprocess traumatic memories. Through EMDR, the distress associated with traumatic memories is reduced, and the individual can develop more adaptive beliefs and responses. The once-traumatic memories are transformed into normal memories, losing their capacity to cause distress. 

Please feel free to call or email for an informal discussion. I offer a 20 minute consultation free of charge.

In our first session, we will typically discuss what it is you want help with (the problems you are experiencing); life now; some of your history; your desired outcomes from counselling and; how we can collaboratively work together in pursing a more meaningful life.

Please contact me to discuss my current hours and availability as this can vary depending on caseload, etc.

In our supervision, you will experience a collaborative process where you will feel supported, empowered, challenged and heard.

I aim to get to know each supervisee individually – how you work, what are your strengths and how you want to grow in your counselling practice. It is important that you feel safe to explore your challenges and vulnerabilities.

My supervision is informed by the Seven Eyed Model (Hawkins & Shohet) but I take an integrative approach that will help you view your work from different theoretical perspectives and, at the same time, allow a safe and accepting space for you to practice within your own modality and explore issues particular to you and your clients.

As a counsellor, I take an Integrative approach rooted in:

- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

- Theories of attachment, trauma and neuroscience

- Elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

- Roger’s Core Conditions

I have found that, no matter what the client’s presenting issue, generally the overall aim is to help them cultivate an attitude of willingness…willingness to have difficult thoughts and feelings in order to lead a more meaningful, value-based life.

As a counsellor, I work with adults, adolescents and families covering a range of issues including, but not limited to:

- Anxiety

- Depression

- Relationships

- Self-worth, self-esteem and confidence

- Childhood trauma

- Fostering and adoption

And I have experience in the following areas:

- Private practice

- Senior Schools

- Colleges

- Independent Fostering Agencies

- Employee Assistance Providers

- Family therapy informed by Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)

- Registered Adoption Counsellor (Ofsted Supplier number 59923)

So as a supervisor, I will bring this knowledge and experience to support you in your practice.

I currently see both qualified and trainee supervisees in my independent practice in Lymington and online via Zoom. I abide by the BACP Ethical Framework. 

I believe that the process of finding the right supervisor should be thorough and thoughtful, therefore, I offer a free consultation of up to 50 minutes to all prospective supervisees. During this time, we will discuss your wants and needs from supervision, how you work as a counsellor and how I work as supervisor to see if there’s a good fit.