Valerie Smith

BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) Registered Accredited Counsellor,
Professional Member of ACTO (Association for Counselling and Therapy Online)

Counselling | Working with Adults, Young people aged 16 + , Health insurers

I have a deep interest and belief in people’s capacity to grow through the most difficult circumstances. I can offer you a safe, confidential space where you feel at ease to explore the experiences which are troubling you and identify what your needs are and what must change. Throughout, my focus is on enabling you to understand and be compassionate towards your experience, even towards those parts of you that you dislike or are afraid of.

At the core of my practice, I am a Person-centred practitioner, working with people on their present-day experience of themselves and in relationship with others. It can be a powerful way of healing restrictive beliefs and enabling growth. I am also trained in Psychodynamic counselling practice. So, you may choose to examine earlier relationships or it may become clear that early relationship patterns are limiting your present-day interactions. My role there would be to support you as you reflect on how those previous relationship experiences are playing out and to help you find what you need now.

I also use Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy within my practice. IFS helps you heal the ‘parts’ of you that get in the way of your joy in life. For example, you may have a part of you that wants to achieve certain things but another part of you habitually procrastinates, threatening those dreams. Many of us struggle with a self-critical part when we make mistakes. Some of us have parts that flood us with rage, anxiety or hopelessness.

IFS therapy believes that all parts of us, however difficult, have an important role in our lives. I support you by helping you offer understanding and compassion to the parts of you that feel unwelcome, even frightening, and to the parts of you that take over when you get triggered. This brings healing to the parts and uncovers the calm, confidence and courage that is already within you.

In my counselling career, I have worked in the charitable, public and private sectors with children, young people and adults. I volunteered as a school counsellor with Place2Be, a nationwide charity which provides emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools. I have also counselled for PF’s Young Adult Service in Edinburgh, which is a service for 18-25 year-olds.

Recognised by: BUPA, TELUS Health 

Get In Touch

Call: 01620 824439

Email: info@fairbairnhouse.co.uk

Address
Fairbairn House,
1 Court Street,
Haddington,
East Lothian
EH41 3JD