Joseph Smyth

I am an Integrative counsellor.  I work with clients as individuals as I believe that one approach will not be suitable or effective for everyone.  

The client-counsellor relationship is a key part of the change that occurs in counselling.  Clients have experienced the relationships we have built as warm, supportive, accepting, boundaried and safe.   

When we feel stuck in any aspect of our life things can feel unsatisfying, uncomfortable or worse.  I listen carefully to how clients are experiencing their lives and relationships to try to understand the meaning that these things have for clients.  

We can work together to talk about the things that feel like they are keeping you stuck, to examine how you think of yourself and the story of your life that you are living and to move towards greater flexibility, satisfaction and acceptance.  

I offer sessions of one hour; online, by phone or face to face in Exeter.  

I believe that clients know what they need to work on in therapy and so am directed by them in terms of what we discuss in sessions.  I listen carefully for how you experience yourself and your place in the world and for what you feel needs to change and what you are able to do yourself to enable that change.  

I often notice and focus on things that you are already doing to deal with issues you are facing and to experience greater satisfaction and joy in your life and through our discussions of these existing strengths and habits, build on them.

I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss what you are looking for in counselling sessions and to arrange our first session.  

After the phone consultation I offer the first session at a lower cost as it is of a different type to regular sessions.  In the first session we will spend time agreeing how we will work together and the boundaries and expectations of the relationship.  This involves me sharing some key information both in our discussion and in writing and asking questions.  Because of this the first session is much more directed by me than routine sessions where it is much more helpful if we are led by you, the client.  

Towards the end of the first session, if we both agree to work together we will arrange a regular session time where we will meet weekly.