Tracy Smithers
Step By Step Counselling & Therapies
Tracy Smithers
Adv Dip in Humanistic Counselling (MBACP)
BA Hons in Youth and Community Studies
Dip in Nursery Nursing (NNEB)
UPDATE FEES: My usual fee is £45. However, I have introduced a sliding scale, to provide for those who are experiencing financial hardship. I want to make counselling as accessible as possible to those who are looking for a counsellor. So, please don't struggle alone, feel free to contact me to discuss this further.
Hello, my name is Tracy, and I am currently based in North Cumbria close to Carlisle and Penrith. Thank you for visiting my website. I qualified as a counsellor in 2002. Since then I have worked with adults and children in both educational and charity settings, as well as privately. I am an Accredited Registrant Member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society and work within their ethical framework. I have a Diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB) and I have a BA Hons in Youth and Community Studies.
Much of my professional life has been spent working with children, young people, and families, because of this working with young people has become one of my specialisms. However, I also have a great deal of experience working with adults in areas such as stress, anxiety, childhood trauma, relationships, self-confidence, and work issues. Additionally, I have an interest in how the foods we eat and our relationship with food can impact our emotional well-being.
It was partly due to my own experiences that I decided to become a counsellor. When I was younger counselling wasn't as readily available as it is now, and mental health issues weren't recognised in the way they are today. Seeking a counsellor wasn't something I might have done until I started training as a counsellor. Having started my counselling training I recognised how valuable therapy could be, and since then I have become passionate about the benefits of seeing a counsellor and the benefits that can be gained from it.
I appreciate that it's not easy taking that first step to contact a counsellor and having counselling for the first time. I'm not sure about you but I sometimes wonder what are they going to be like. Am, I going to like them, are they the right counsellor for me? To help you get a better idea of whether I am the right person for you, I have created a YouTube Channel, so you get to see more about me. I also post regularly on my Step-by-Step Counselling Facebook Page.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCki_fC3fDioByWZZnBZ5OKQ
In-person counselling appointments take place at my therapy rooms near rurally in the Eden Valley, North Cumbria a short distance from Carlisle, Penrith, Brampton and Southern Scotland. Supporting people's emotional well-being and mental health is something I feel passionate about. Life can throw various challenges, and sometimes having a safe space to talk and offload can help us move forward.
I offer counselling on a long- or short-term basis to adults and children. If face-to-face counselling is not possible I offer online counselling via Teams or telephone counselling. This enables me to offer counselling to adults, children and young people who do not live near Carlisle, Penrith, Brampton, or the wider Cumbria area.
How can counselling help?
Having had counselling myself, I appreciate the importance of choosing the right counsellor for you. I offer a caring and compassionate approach to counselling. As a counsellor, I believe that adopting a holistic approach to counselling, rather than a one size fits all approach, can be of the greatest benefit to clients. I work flexibly to suit the needs of individual clients and am happy to discuss this within our initial counselling appointment. I understand that for many people weekly counselling appointments aren't possible for financial, time, or other reasons, and I am willing to offer fortnightly, monthly, or one-off appointments to suit your needs.
I offer a gentle, empathic and compassionate counselling approach to support you. The time we share is exclusively for you to talk things through and offload at your own pace.
The environment where I practice provides a safe and confidential space where you can talk and explore issues without being judged. Each appointment is tailored to suit your individual needs. Not everyone feels comfortable talking. I use a variety of methods to support people in this situation through the counselling process. This might involve writing, drawing, creative activities, using shells, pictures, and even games such as Jenga. These activities provide creative resources for the child therapy work I offer in Cumbria. I have discovered that the area where I counsel and have my counselling service (Eden Valley), is also accessible to clients coming from areas of Northumberland (Hexham) and Scotland (Gretna).
I qualified as a counsellor in 2002. My additional experiences of working as a nursery nurse, in schools, in youth clubs, and as a Home School Link Worker provide me with a richness of understanding of supporting children and families. I have planned transition workshops and can offer mentoring to young people, who are going through the challenge of changing schools, looking for work or starting University. I have worked and volunteered in a range of person-centred environments in the past. My work as a counsellor in the Carlisle and Penrith areas of Cumbria includes working with young people.
Some of the areas I work with are the following, however, I have a wide range of experience and expertise as a counsellor in many areas and this isn't a complete list of areas I can support.
You can also see some of my specialist areas of interest below.
Stress
Anger
Loneliness
Relationship
Anxiety
Depression
Self-esteem/self-worth
Attachment issues
Children/ Young people/Famillies
Bereavement and loss
Inner Child Work
One of my areas of counselling interest is Inner Child work. Our inner child can sometimes be referred to as the younger you.
Exploring how the events in our childhood impact us can help us gain a greater understanding of ourselves, our experiences, and our relationships.
Relationship with Food
I have an interest in people's relationship with food. In particular, I am interested in how sugar-eating sugary foods can affect a person, physically, emotionally, and behaviourally.
Talking Therapy
Clients sometimes choose talking therapy because they are concerned about their emotional well-being. Talking therapy can be an opportunity to talk and offload.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
£45.
Appointments last 50 minutes.
This can vary from client to client, and can be discussed at the first appointment.
Ideally, appointments are held weekly. Continuity can be really important, especially within the early stages of counselling. This allows us to develop a trusting relationship where you feel comfortable more quickly, which in turn helps us to focus on the issues that you wish to bring to counselling. However, I appreciate that due to financial, time, or other circumstances, it might not always be possible for you attend on a weekly basis, so I am happy to discuss with you the frequency of the appointments.
I follow the National Society of Counselling and Psychotherapies' (NSC'S) ethical framework with regard to confidentiality. All sessions are confidential unless you are at risk of harming yourself, or others. I have monthly supervision where I might discuss the issues you bring to counselling, however, I never mention names. This monthly supervision supports me in working professionally, and ethically in my practice as a counsellor, and ensures that I work within their ethical framework.
The difference between counselling and psychotherapy is the number of sessions and the depth of work involved. My experience and training enable me to work psychotherapeutically.
Mentoring is about giving advice and directive support. Counselling is about listening and hearing what the client is expressing. Being able to understand and emphasise.
CONTACT ME
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07929 615157 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.
MY LOCATION
My counselling practice, is easily accessible from the A6 and M6, and within easy reach of Carlisle, Penrith, and Brampton.Towns such as Hexham, Haltwhistle in Northumberland, and neighbouring areas of Southern Scotland like Gretna and Annan are also within easy access of my Counselling Practice.
WORKSHOPS
SUGAR-FREE WORKSHOPS:
These workshops give you an opportunity to explore your relationship with food and the effect sugar has on physical, and emotional well-being. If you would like to know more about how sugar can impact our emotional well-being you might be interested in my blog. Please click on the link for more information.
https://sugarfreeme923.wordpress.com/
CHILDREN`S WORKSHOPS:
I have delivered successful group work sessions within schools, and youth groups around themes such as friendships, feelings, change, bullying, and healthy living. If you are a school, or youth group and would be interested in me delivering workshops within your organisation please get in touch.