Smriti Rai

I currently have availability  Wednesdays and Fridays and other evenings.

I offer concessionary rate for Artists, BAME and LGBTQIA+ community with £40 per hour

Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or disconnected from themselves. You might be carrying the impact of difficult relationships, loss, cultural expectations, migration, or feeling like you don't fully belong anywhere. You don't have to have everything figured out before we begin.

Our sessions are a space where you can speak freely, without judgement or pressure. We will explore whatever feels important to you, at a pace that feels safe, helping you understand your experiences, make sense of difficult emotions, and discover new ways of relating to yourself and others.

I work particularly with people navigating identity, belonging, minority stress, cultural differences, life transitions, grief, anxiety, low self-worth, trauma, and the lasting impact of experiences that may have left you feeling unseen or misunderstood. I also welcome artists, creatives, and members of LGBTQIA+ and global majority communities looking for a culturally responsive therapeutic space.

Growing up in Nepal and training as a counsellor in the UK has given me an understanding of what it can feel like to live between cultures, languages, and identities. This perspective informs my practice, creating space for the parts of yourself that may not have always felt understood or accepted.

My core approach is Person-Centred Therapy, meaning our work is guided by what feels most important to you rather than following a fixed agenda. Alongside this, I draw from Compassion Focused Therapy, Trauma-Responsive Mindfulness, Bereavement and Loss work, and Expressive Therapy, including creative approaches when words alone don't feel enough. Together, we will find an approach that feels right for you and your unique experience.

The Third-Space is for people who have often felt like they don't completely fit into one world or another.

You may be navigating different cultures, identities, expectations, relationships, or life transitions. Perhaps you've been carrying responsibilities that others don't see, struggling with anxiety, feeling disconnected from yourself, or wondering where you truly belong. Therapy can become a third space, a place where you don't have to choose between different parts of yourself, but can explore them with curiosity, compassion, and without judgement.

I have particular experience working with people from global majority communities, migrants, mixed-heritage individuals, LGBTQIA+ clients, neurodivergent people, artists and creatives, young adults, and anyone navigating identity, belonging, anxiety, depression, grief, or minority stress.

A culturally responsive approach

Many people worry they'll have to spend their therapy sessions explaining their culture, family dynamics, experiences of migration, racism, or discrimination before they can even begin talking about themselves.

Being culturally responsive means recognising that every person's identity, culture, values, and story are unique. I approach each client with openness and curiosity, allowing you to define what matters rather than making assumptions.

I developed this approach during my placement at Headstrong Counselling, where I received training and supervision in culturally competent therapy while supporting clients from a wide range of backgrounds. 

Whether you're feeling caught between cultures, questioning who you are, processing loss, recovering from trauma, or simply looking for a space where all parts of you are welcome, we can explore your experiences together at a pace that feels right for you.

Taking the first step into therapy can feel daunting, so I offer a free 20-minute phone or video call with no obligation to continue.

This is an opportunity for you to ask questions, tell me a little about what's bringing you to therapy (only as much as you feel comfortable sharing), and get a sense of how I work. You don't need to have everything figured out or know exactly where to start.

We'll talk about what you're hoping for from therapy, whether I feel like the right therapist for you, and any practical questions you may have.

If it feels like a good fit, we can arrange your first session. If not, that's completely okay. Finding the right therapist is important, and if I think another approach or therapist might suit your needs better, I'll do my best to point you in the right direction.