Dean Smithers

Welcome. My name is Dean, I'm an integrative counsellor, and I'm here to help you see through the complexities of your life to a clearer centre.

What kind of therapy do you offer?

I provide an authentic and engaging style of talking therapy that aims to meet you entirely in whatever it is you're going through, week in, week out.

My way of working is characterised by presence, empathy, curiosity, and when appropriate, just the right amount of humour. Being an integrative counsellor means I'm not limited to one modality or approach to therapy, which gives me the freedom to work intuitively with each of my clients in a way that suits our style of relationship.

What will our sessions be like?

During our time together, I'll strive to attune to you as deeply as I can so that I might step into your world; so that I might walk alongside you in it. My primary aim is to hold you in the emotional exploration of your life and experience, but we'll also be working collaboratively to help you make lasting changes that mean something to you.

Whatever it is that brings you to me, I'll always honour the unique nature of your experience rather than confine your experience to a term used to describe it (i.e. anxiety, depression, etc.)

Do you specialise in anything?

Most of my work involves the processing of personal unconscious material, or making what is unconscious conscious. By doing so, we come to understand why the same things keep happening, which makes it possible to say no to repeating patterns that stunt growth and yes to growth itself.

I have experience and a particular interest in making sense of the difficulties people so often experience in romantic relationships, and welcome anyone in their 20s or 30s who find themselves lost in the chaos of those years. I also work with familial relationships and traumatic childhood events, and provide a patient and compassionate space for people in addictive relationships with things such as alcohol, sex and porn.

I'm a little nervous about starting—should I be?

To speak in the old way, therapy is both the troublesome task and the evening calm. It requires an ever-increasing degree of bravery and self-honesty from you, but its reward is far greater than its burden, so to speak, and in its fullness is reflected life itself.

Rest assured that sessions are informed by what you bring, and we'll always work at a pace most suited to you.

I hold a CPCAB-awarded Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and I'm a registered member of the BACP, whose Ethical Framework I adhere to. You can refer to this framework if ever in doubt about what constitutes good practice.

Working together...

A free introductory session is our opportunity to meet and get a clear sense of what working together might be like. You're welcome to ask me any questions you have at this stage, and I'll be enquiring more deeply into what brings you to counselling. The session will last between 30-40 minutes, and ongoing therapy will be discussed and agreed upon collaboratively if we both decide to continue.

If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to hear me. And on that note, I very much look forward to hearing from you.