Heather Smith

 I am a Â鶹ԭ´´ Accredited Counsellor who works with women who are perhaps struggling with confidence, anxiety, lost identity and the emotional and physical aspects of menopause. I use a blended approach where I will give you the space to talk and share your experience, alongside working together to equip you with the tools and strategies to help you manage day-to-day. Using Psychodynamic therapy, we will work to understand how the past may be influencing your present situation and take on those negative thoughts that intrude on our daily life.

That might mean taking care of old beliefs that stem from childhood and looking at them with your fresh adult eyes; relabelling automatic beliefs you may be holding onto; and, ultimately unlocking the past to put some meaning and understanding into how it is affecting your present and ultimately your future.

Remember, this is your time and investment in yourself, so choosing the right therapist is vital. I offer a free 30 minute consultation, which will give you the opportunity to learn more about how I work and what to expect from counselling with me, and hopefully put you at ease a little as you embark on your counselling journey.

Do any of the following apply to you?

• I feel anxious and overwhelmed by life.
• I feel constantly worn out from excessive worry; I can’t seem to turn my thoughts off!
• I am worrying from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed.
• …and by the time I go to bed, already exhausted from worry, I still can’t sleep!
• I am always telling myself that I am not good enough, and I feel that this is holding me back.
• I feel like I’ve lost a part of who I am.

If the above sounds familiar, then you are in the right place.

Often we just simply struggle on, we try to ignore how we feel thinking that there’s always someone else that’s in a worse place than us, right? Wrong. Your experience matters to you and what you’re feeling is real, overwhelming and exhausting. Counselling offers you the space and time to invest in yourself, to explore and unravel the way we think and feel and give you the tools to help you live a more fulfilling and content life.

Ultimately, counselling is an investment in yourself, and it is one of the most and important investments you can make.

I offer a no-obligation 30 minute consultation, which is at no charge to you.  This time will give you the opportunity to share your story with me, learn more about the way I work, and will help you work out if my style of counselling is right for you.

Couples Counselling - Imago Relationship Therapy

You may be feeling stuck in the same argument with your partner, wondering why the smallest things seem to escalate so quickly. Perhaps conversations turn into blame, defensiveness or silence, leaving both of you feeling unheard, hurt or alone. Over time this can create distance, frustration and the painful sense that you are no longer on the same side.

Many couples reach a point where they love each other but feel lost in patterns of conflict, misunderstanding or emotional disconnection. If this feels familiar, couples therapy can offer a space to slow things down and begin to understand what is really happening beneath these difficult moments.

I work with couples using Imago Relationship Therapy, an approach that helps partners communicate in a safer and more structured way. Rather than trying to 'win' an argument, the focus shifts towards helping each partner feel genuinely heard, understood and valued.

Often the issues couples argue about on the surface are connected to deeper emotional needs that have not yet been fully expressed or understood. In our work together, I guide couples through a structured dialogue process that helps you listen to each other differently. Instead of reacting defensively, partners learn how to respond with curiosity, empathy and respect. 

Imago therapy sees conflict not as a sign that your relationship is failing, but as an opportunity to better understand each other’s emotional worlds. When couples learn how to listen and respond differently, many find they are able to move from frustration and distance towards greater empathy, safety and closeness.

You don’t have to keep having the same painful conversations. With the right support, it is possible to rediscover a sense of partnership and connection in your relationship.

I have worked as a therapist for over 16 years with both individuals and couples. During that time, I began to notice a pattern in many couples sessions. Partners would often speak to me about each other rather than speaking directly to one another. When they did try to talk together, conversations could quickly escalate into arguments. Both partners could leave the session feeling criticised, defensive or emotionally exposed, and the same painful cycle they experienced at home could end up repeating itself in the therapy room.

This led me to look for a different way of working with couples, one that helped create greater emotional safety for both partners. I was drawn to Imago Relationship Therapy because it offers a clear and structured approach that supports couples to slow conversations down and speak directly to each other in a more thoughtful and respectful way. Basically, I will teach you a new way to communicate with your partner, one that helps you to truly listen and respond to each other, leading to deeper connection in your relationship.

Our first session will be an hour in duration.

This session will give us the opportunity to meet and explore whether I’m a good fit for you both. During our time together, I’ll invite you to share what’s currently happening in your relationship and the changes you hope to achieve through therapy.

We’ll also try out the Imago dialogue structure, which can help you see if this approach feels useful for your relationship. We’ll begin with gentle expressions of appreciation for each other, so there’s no need to worry about diving too deeply too quickly.

The cost for the first session is £80

If you choose to work with me thereafter, each 1.5-hour session, held every two weeks, will cost £120

Therapy isn't always comfortable. In fact, good therapy often isn’t. It can ask us to look closely at things we’ve spent a long time avoiding, to explore how past experiences might still be shaping the way we live, relate, and feel today. That process can be challenging, and it should be. But challenge doesn’t have to mean overwhelm.

I've been a counsellor for 17 years, and also work as a teacher of counselling and as a clinical supervisor. Over that time, I’ve learned that the most important part of any therapeutic work is the relationship between us; not just as a foundation, but as the space where real change happens.

My role is to help you stay with that process. I aim to create a space where the challenge feels tolerable, even if it’s not easy; a space where you feel heard, met honestly, and not rushed. Every therapeutic relationship is unique, and the one we build together will guide the work we do.

Whether you’re coming to therapy with a clear goal or just a sense that something needs attention, I’m here to explore it with you.

Remember, this is your time and investment in yourself, so choosing the right therapist is vital. I offer a free 30 minute consultation, which will give you the opportunity to learn more about how I work and what to expect from counselling with me, and hopefully put you at ease a little as you embark on your counselling journey.

Ultimately, counselling is an investment in yourself, and it is one of the most and important investments you can make.

I offer a no-obligation 30 minute consultation, which is at no charge to you. This time will give you the opportunity to share your story with me, learn more about the way I work, and will help you work out if my style of counselling is right for you.

Online and face to face supervision available.

I believe in the value of supervision which, when we might feel stuck, offers space to sit and connect with another, who will gently support and challenge us to grow, bringing new meaning and clarity to our work. I will facilitate this by drawing upon my own experience, and by the use of collaborative contracting and evaluation methods. However, it is our relationship that will always supersede technique and, by exploring what emerges in the moment together, we can experience truly transformative conversations.  

Supervision can often feel challenging and we can keenly feel the vulnerability of the process. I bring compassion and humility to the supervisory relationship where we will aim to find the courage together to turn towards those times where we may struggle, with the wisdom and willingness to work to find clarity together.

I am accredited with the Â鶹ԭ´´ and I hold a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision from The University of Derby.  I have experience within organisations offering individual and group supervision.  Additionally, I am a tutor of counselling, teaching the Level 6 Diploma in supervision.

My supervision model is structured, and together we will create a clear agenda for each session. I will encourage you to bring a supervision question, and we will explore it collaboratively, noticing what emerges between us. At the end of each session, we will reflect on insights and identify what can be applied back into your work with clients.  Of course, there is always space for flexibility, gentleness, and a pace that feels comfortable for you. Each session, I will check in with you to understand what you need from me, whether that’s more time to reflect, a slower approach, or support in exploring something challenging. Together we will create an environment of safe-uncertainty, where you can feel safe enough to be uncertain about your practice, without fear of judgement.

It is important to find a supervisor with whom you feel comfortable and who you feel will be able to support your professional goals. There is the opportunity for us to have a 30 minute ‘discovery’ call, via Zoom, where we can get to know one another a little more and talk through your goals for supervision. Please contact me if you would like to arrange a call.

Fees: £85 for 1.5 hours

Additionally, you may wish to visit my website to find out more about my practice.