Tracy Smithers
Step By Step Counselling & Therapies
Tracy Smithers
Adv Dip in Humanistic Counselling
BA Hons in Youth and Community Studies
Dip in Nursery Nursing (NNEB)
" Counselling has the potential to create positive change; enabling you to move forward to a brighter future. " T. SMITHERS.
About Me
Hello, my name is Tracy. I am a counsellor/psychotherapist based in North Cumbria, close to Carlisle, Penrith, and Brampton. I offer counselling appointments from my therapy room in a rural location close to the village of Armathwaite. I can also offer appointments online or via telephone. Each appointment is tailored to suit individuals, so I am happy to discuss which would work best for you. I’ve been a qualified counsellor/psychotherapist since 2002.
Before this I worked with children and young people. I have always enjoyed the company of children and young people. I enjoy their energy, enthusiasm, open to learning new things and their honesty. So on leaving school, I went to train as a Nursery Nurse (NNEB). During my time as a Nursery Nurse, I worked as a nanny, within nurseries and schools. I liked the variation of the work and seeing how with care, compassion, and support children grow and learn. Later, on I went into train as a Youth Worker and gained a B.A in Youth and Community Studies. As a Youth Worker, I found observing the growth of young people and how they emerged as adults rewarding.
One of the things I have learnt from my own childhood experiences and my experience of working with children and young people is ; that no matter how we start of in life or our circumstances. We have the ability to create incredible change in our lives. This belief is something that has evolved over my time as a counsellor/therapist. Being able to support those I work with whilst they create positive changes in their lives, is something I value greatly.
In 1998 having seen a family member start their counselling course, I realised that this was something I wanted to do. Having faced a variety of challenges in my life, I wanted to support others facing similar life challenges. So, I started my journey as a counsellor, and I have never looked back. I have always enjoyed listening to and supporting other people, I felt that these were skills I could put to good use as a counsellor.
One of the key reasons I was inspired to become a counsellor was that as I child I experienced my childhood trauma, and health issues. I came away from those experiences feeling I didn’t have a voice at times. As a counsellor providing a safe space where people could feel safe, talk, offload and above all be heard was something I felt drawn to offer others.
You might be surprised to learn that training as a counsellor isn't all about learning theories and different skills. It is also about your issues as part of the counselling training process, trainees are required to attend regular counselling. They also go through personal development which during my training required writing reflective journals. I had an additional challenge whilst training as a counselling, I had M.E. However, I was so determined I wanted to become a counsellor, that I continued and in 2002 qualified as a counsellor. It is still one of my proudest achievements and I believe I am very lucky to be in the position I am of being able to support others through their counselling journey. One of the key things I took away from my counselling journey is that anything is possible. My catchphrase if I had one would be; 'Triumph Over Adversity'. This is why I am so committed to supporting others through overcoming their life challenges and moving forward to a brighter future.
As a counsellor, 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 current DBS check.
Specialist Areas:
Children and Young People. Childhood. Family Issues. Relationships. Anger. Fear. Trauma. Anxiety. Change. Feeling Stuck.
You can find more details about my specialist areas towards the end of this page.
Experience:
As a counsellor, I have worked with adults, children, and young people for over twenty years within schools/university charities as well as privately. I have over thirty years of experience in; working with children, young people, and families in many different areas.
Counselling and how it works: I appreciate that it is not always easy to take that first step to find a counsellor. Counselling is a two-way process. As a counsellor, I can’t give you answers, BUT I CAN support you in navigating through any difficulties or challenges you might be facing. Maybe you aren’t too sure how counselling might help you, perhaps you have a few questions about how it might benefit you.
I am always happy to have a chat or any questions you might have before you make that first step. If you would like to find out more about what I am about before getting in touch, I regularly update my Facebook page (Tracy Smithers. Step by Step Counselling) with a variety of posts around emotional well being and mental health they also include coping strategies and solutions how to manage situations and emotions. There are also some videos I have done. So, please feel free to check that out.
I offer an empathic, understanding, non-judgemental and compassionate place to talk. Providing a safe space to work creatively using various methods such as inner child work, creative therapies, mindfulness, visualisation, cognitive behaviour techniques (CBT), social stories, and games to suit the individual. I adopt a holistic approach, working with each individual to meet their own needs. So whilst I have trained in certain counselling modalities, I draw on many years experience in various areas, to ensure clients receive the best support that I can offer while I am on their therapeutic journey with them. I believe that the foundations of our patterns of behaviour, relationships, life experiences, how we express our emotions and react and
respond to situations and events in life originating from childhood.
More information about my specialist areas:
Children and Young People: I have worked with children and young people are; school issues including bullying, and changing schools, family issues, stress, anxiety, anger, trauma, grief, self- harm, loneliness, friendship, and gender.
Adults: I have experience in supporting with the following issues; childhood trauma, relationships, anger, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem/confidence, grief/loss, comfort eating, change self- harm and parenting.
As a counsellor, I have a wide range of experience in various areas, however, children, childhood, childhood trauma and inner child work are areas I have a great deal of knowledge and expertise. So, whether you are a parent seeking support for your child, or an adult seeking support as a result of your childhood experiences, I am happy to discuss with you how counselling might help you at this time.
Please find below some FREE downloads which offer coping tools to help you navigate through life.
Understanding Stress and How to Manage it Workshop Booklet
You-Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCki_fC3fDioByWZZnBZ5OKQ
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 have thirty years of experience in working with children and young people in a variety of roles with all ages. I have worked as a Nursery Nurse, in schools, in youth clubs, as a Youth Mentor/Worker and as a Home School Link Worker. These have provided me with a richness of understanding of supporting children and families. I have delivered school transition workshops and mentored children and young people, who are going through the challenge of changing schools, looking for work or starting University. I support children and young people with a range of issues including; anxiety, school issues, anger, stress, friendship, and low confidence. I work creatively to suit the needs of each child. I can offer in person support from my therapy rooms near Penrith and the North Lakes, and Carlisle in Cumbria, or online.
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
As a result of my own experiences, I have an interest in people's relationship with food. In particular, in how sugary foods can affect a person, physically, emotionally, and behaviourally. I have recently completed a course as an Eating Psychology Coach and I am now able to offer specially designed coaching to support you in developing a healthier relationship with food.
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
RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD AND SUGAR-FREE WORKSHOPS:
These workshops invite you 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.