Valerie Smith Counselling and Psychotherapy

About

I am a qualified, COSCA-registered counsellor, with a private practice based in Edinburgh and East Lothian. As well as seeing people face-to-face, I offer specialist telephone counselling. I have a particular interest in telephone counselling people who live in small or rural communities. However, I warmly welcome approaches from anyone for whom telephone counselling is a practical or preferred option.

Many things bring us to counselling...

For some of us, it is overwhelming emotions, such as loss or anger. For others, it is painful or restrictive marital or family relationships. Some of us seek counselling because day-to-day life feels pointless or it’s dominated by anxiety. We may feel there is no way out.

A commitment to understanding you

Whatever your struggle, I can offer you a warm, non-judgmental experience and a wholehearted commitment to understanding you. Witnessing people emerge from emotional difficulties, places where they previously felt stuck and limited, is a privilege.

I offer counselling on a wide range of experiences including the following:

•Depression and low mood
•Stress and anxiety
•Grief and loss
•Trauma and abuse
•Low self-esteem
•Panic attacks
•Transforming anger
•Family and relationship issues
•Sexuality
•Gender identity
•Dissociation and hearing voices
•Self-harm

Taking the first step

Making the first step to seek counselling however may be daunting. I hope that this page and my website (www.valeriesmithcounselling.com) help explain what you can expect in working with me. If you would like to know more or to arrange an initial meeting, please give me a call. Finding the right counsellor is crucial; therefore I offer either a free initial 30-minute call or a reduced fee of £20 for the initial 60-minute session (face-to-face or telephone). It is an opportunity for us both to assess whether counselling with me is right for you at this moment.

Fees

Fees after the initial session are £45 per 60 minute session for face-to-face counselling and £40 per 60 minute session for telephone counselling. The sessions normally take place at the same time each week.

Number of Sessions

I offer both long and short term (minimum of six sessions) therapy. During the initial session we can discuss what you would like to gain from counselling and consider how many sessions you would like to commit to. We can revisit this at regular intervals throughout your therapy.

Show more