Mark Smith

I currently have availability for new clients. I offer flexible weekday, evening and weekend appointments, both face to face in Stourbridge and online, so that therapy can fit around work, family and other commitments.

Please get in touch by phone or email to discuss times that suit you. I will respond to all enquiries within 24 hours, and I am always happy to answer any questions before you decide to go ahead.

I am Mark Smith, an MBACP registered integrative counsellor with over 20 years' experience supporting adults through some of life's most difficult moments, and through the quieter times when something simply feels stuck or unclear.

People come to me with anxiety, stress, low mood, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, loss of confidence, habits and phobias, as well as those simply seeking space to understand themselves better or make meaningful change. Whatever has brought you here, you do not need to have it neatly explained before getting in touch.

My counselling is warm, collaborative and built entirely around you. I draw on a range of therapeutic models, including Transactional Analysis, person-centred, Gestalt and psychodynamic thinking, to suit what you need rather than applying one fixed approach to everyone. As a qualified clinical hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner, I can also draw on these where they would add something useful to the counselling work, though only ever where it feels right for you. I believe that real, lasting change becomes possible when you feel genuinely heard, not rushed and met without judgement.

Alongside my private practice, I am a director at White House Cancer Support, a founding trustee of a charity supporting young people with disabilities, a Mental Health First Aid instructor, and have several years' experience as a Samaritan. These roles have deepened my understanding of what it means to sit with someone in difficulty, and the courage it takes to ask for help.

Any personal information you share when contacting me will be held securely and used only to respond to your enquiry. For full details please visit the privacy policy on my website.

Taking the first step towards support can feel daunting, and finding the right therapist matters. I offer counselling from a private practice in Stourbridge, with sessions available face to face or online. I work with clients across Stourbridge, Dudley, Kingswinford and surrounding areas, at times that fit around your life.

I work integratively, which means I do not apply a single fixed approach to everyone. Counselling is the foundation of my work, and I shape each piece of work around you. Some people want focused, practical support over a shorter period, while others benefit from longer-term work that explores deeper patterns. We can discuss what feels right and review it together as we go. Where it would be helpful, and only with your agreement, I am also able to bring in clinical hypnotherapy or NLP techniques alongside the counselling, so you have the full range of support available to you.

I offer a free initial telephone conversation. This is a relaxed, no-pressure chance to ask questions, get a sense of how I work, and decide whether this feels like the right fit for you.

Through my membership of a local therapy centre, I may also be able to support clients in the Dudley area who need help with the cost of sessions. Please ask me about this when we speak.

I am MBACP registered, GHR registered, Enhanced DBS checked, fully insured and work under regular clinical supervision, so you can feel confident you are in safe, professional hands.

It is completely normal to feel uncertain or even nervous before a first session, as many people do. The first session is simply a chance to talk, at your own pace, about what has brought you here and what you are hoping for. You do not need to arrive with everything figured out or know exactly what to say.

I will introduce myself, explain how I work and cover the practical details, such as confidentiality, how sessions are structured, frequency and anything else you want to know. I will ask about your current situation, a little relevant background and what kind of support feels most useful to you. There is no assessment to pass and no pressure to share more than feels comfortable.

By the end of the session you will have a clear sense of how I work and whether it feels right. You can then decide whether you would like to continue, and there is absolutely no obligation.