Sean Smith

I currently have availability Monday to Friday, and Saturday morning.

About me

I offer empathetic, supportive counselling for adults of all ages, providing a safe and welcoming space where you can talk openly about whatever is on your mind, whether that’s bereavement, anxiety, low mood, questions around identity, work-related stress, or family difficulties.

My path to becoming a counsellor grew out of a 20-year career in education, where I worked as both a teacher and a leader. During that time, I was always drawn to the pastoral side of school life, being there for young people and their families through the ups and downs that come with school and home life. I’ve also worked as a mental health coordinator and as an education practitioner with children and young adults who were chronically disengaged from education, which gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges many young people face.

How I work

You may be finding it hard to move forward after the loss of someone you love. Grief can bring so many different and often conflicting emotions, and it can feel overwhelming at times. Together, we can explore those feelings and gently begin to find a way through.

You might be experiencing stress or anxiety that makes everyday life feel like a struggle. In our work together, we can look at what might be contributing to those feelings and find ways to help you manage and ease your anxiety.

Perhaps you are questioning your sense of identity, feeling unsure of who you are, or struggling with changes in your life. We can work together to explore these feelings and help you reconnect with yourself, your values, and what matters to you.

You may be facing challenges in your relationships or family life, whether that’s difficulty communicating, coping with conflict, or adjusting to changes. Together, we can explore these dynamics and find ways for you to navigate them more confidently and calmly.

I am a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor.

As an Integrative counsellor, I don’t believe that one single approach to therapy works for everyone. We’re all unique, and what each of us needs can be very different depending on where we are in life and what we’re struggling with. Using an integrative approach gives us the flexibility to find what works best for you. It’s about working together in a way that feels natural, supportive, and meaningful.

At the heart of my work is a humanistic and person-centred foundation, which means I see you as the expert in your own life. I’m here to offer empathy and gentle guidance, and to provide a space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment.  Where  appropriate, I am creative in my approach, sometimes using play and art-based therapy to help my clients express feelings and experiences that they may find difficult to put into words.

Please contact me by phone or email to arrange a free 30 minute session (online or face to face). This gives us the opportunity to have a conversation about how we might work together, including the counselling agreement and practical considerations, such as whether you would prefer to sessions to be  online or face-to-face. It’s also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have.

Your first full counselling session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and for you to feel comfortable in the counselling space. The focus is entirely on you and your experience. There’s no agenda, no tests, and no pressure to have all the answers. This session is simply about beginning to explore how you feel and what has brought you here.