Naomi Smith

I have no availability at present.

I have an established community private practice, holding contracts with Higher Education and Dorset Police Force. I also do domiciliary visits if needed or appropriate and offer evening appointments for those in full-time employment. I also facilitate groups for Person Growth and Development.

I work interactively, drawing on many years of experience, working first as a Staff Nurse within the NHS and then as Counsellor in a GP Surgery and in Private Practice. I am integratively trained, meaning, I draw on various theories of practice and play an active role in the therapeutic relationship, believing everyone has a problem, lives with one or is one, and counselling can make a difference for you.

Feeling safe is such an important part of finding support in a challenging time and I provide a safe space with care and commitment, where we can work together to support you processing the difficulties you are experiencing or to unload what would feel you need to. I use Somatic Experiencing tools, which I can teach you, if needed or appropriate, which might enable you to process challenging feelings and experiences in a way that supports health and wellbeing. The body and mind works together and your nervous system is directly involved in that. Somatic Experiencing exercises are tools designed to work with your nervous system, promoting your body to go through the process it needs to, to return to calmness and wholeness. 

Whatever has happened to you that lead you to looking for support, please remember, that it does not define who you are, it only reflects what has happened to you and it is possible to recover wellness and quality of life. 

I do an assessment on a first session, therefore, ask to allow 1.5 hrs for your first session.  I do this in order to get a better understanding of where you are at and the factors that may be contributing to some of the difficulties you may be experiencing. This is important to support safe practice.  It is also an opportunity for you to ask for any additional information you may need.  Following sessions, are 1 hour.