Claudia Smith

I currently offer online counselling and am happy to work with clients on a weekly or fortnightly basis, depending on their needs and circumstances.

For some clients, particularly those wanting ongoing support around workplace wellbeing, a monthly session can provide a regular, safe space to step back from the pressures of work, reflect on what is happening and consider strategies for managing stress, maintaining healthy boundaries and sustaining a healthier work-life balance.

I also offer face-to-face counselling within workplaces and can visit workplaces where appropriate and practical. This may be particularly suitable for organisations wishing to provide staff with accessible, confidential support around workplace stress, wellbeing and resilience.

Please contact me to discuss your circumstances and we can consider what frequency and format of counselling would be most appropriate for you.

I offer a warm, collaborative and integrative approach to counselling, creating a confidential, non-judgemental space where you can step back from the demands of life and work and reflect on what is happening for you.

As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches and tailor our work to your individual circumstances, needs and goals. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is central, and I work at a pace that feels manageable for you, respecting your autonomy and what you bring to the work.

I take a holistic approach, recognising that our emotional wellbeing can be affected by many aspects of our lives, including work, relationships, physical wellbeing, values, beliefs, past experiences and significant life changes. I am particularly interested in helping clients understand the impact that prolonged stress and pressure can have on their wellbeing. My understanding of Polyvagal Theory also informs my work, offering a framework for exploring how our nervous system responds to stress, threat and experiences of safety.

My aim is not simply to focus on what feels difficult, but to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, recognise your strengths and resources, explore new perspectives and find sustainable ways forward.

My practice focuses on supporting professionals and others in high-responsibility, service-focused roles who are experiencing burnout, sustained workplace pressure, emotional exhaustion or significant life and vocational transition.

I particularly work with people in education, church leadership, humanitarian work, international development and cross-cultural settings. These roles can be deeply meaningful, but can also involve carrying considerable responsibility for others, complex relationships, demanding workloads and prolonged pressure.

I also specialise in overseas transition and re-entry, supporting people who are preparing to move overseas, adjusting to life in a different culture, or returning home after living and working internationally. My own experience of living and working overseas informs this aspect of my practice and gives me an appreciation of the particular challenges around adjustment, identity, belonging and returning home.

I offer counselling for burnout recovery and significant life transitions, as well as support around resilience, boundaries, workload, professional identity and vocation.

I primarily work online and also offer face-to-face counselling within workplaces, travelling in and around Redhill, Reigate and surrounding areas.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to begin to understand together what has brought you to counselling and what you would like support with. We will explore your circumstances, the issues you are experiencing and what you hope to achieve through counselling, and consider together how we might best begin our work.

I take a holistic approach, so as well as exploring work and life circumstances, I may ask about areas such as sleep, diet, exercise, social connections and work-life balance. We will also talk about any significant life events and relevant mental health history. This helps me understand the wider context of what you are experiencing and forms part of my risk assessment, ensuring that I can support you safely and appropriately as we work together online.

If you are seeking support with burnout, I will usually ask you to complete a burnout questionnaire. This can help us develop a clearer understanding of how burnout may be affecting you and provide a useful starting point for deciding how best to work together.

I will also explain how I work, including confidentiality and the practical arrangements for online counselling, and there will be time for you to ask any questions you may have.