Michael Smith

I see clients in person from my counselling space in the West End of Edinburgh. 

I mostly see clients during the day but I also have limited availability for face to face sessions on Monday evenings. 

I also offer online sessions.

I'm Mike. I am a Â鶹ԭ´´ registered Person-Centred Counsellor.

I trust that when people are given time and space to explore their inner experiences within a supportive counselling relationship, they can develop new insights in to their thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behaviour. My counselling approach is rooted in respecting your individual experiences and personal perspective.

One of the central principles of person-centred practice is that we all have the inner resources to find a way through issues and struggles, to change, to see things differently, and live life in more satisfying ways. I aim to approach all sessions with a genuine curiosity, and work hard to help you clarify your experience, your ongoing situation and different options available to you.

My aim is to attempt to create an environment in which you feel safe and trusting enough to begin to explore the issues that you feel are important. You choose what you wish to explore, and at what pace. 

I recognise that counselling can be a significant use of your time, energy, and money. With this in mind, I am committed to remaining flexible, communicating openly and adapting our sessions where necessary to ensure you get the most out of our time together.

Prior to my counselling training, I worked in social care, supporting people from a wide range of backgrounds. Alongside my private counselling practice, I volunteer as a counsellor for a local charity, supporting several clients on a weekly basis. I am also a part time support worker for elderly people in the community, offering companionship and promoting independence.

I try to approach all sessions with warmth and compassion, with a genuine curiosity for what is going on for you. I also strive to be honest, real and straight forward. I admire the courage it can take to share your problems with a relative stranger, and I try and respect this by being as open with my own feelings and observations as I can, whilst remaining firmly focused on you and your frame of reference.

What can I help with?

You may be feeling stuck, confused, overwhelmed or frustrated. You might have difficulty making, or trusting yourself to make decisions. You may find yourself repeating the same thought patterns or behaviours, wanting to change something but feeling unable to do so. You might be finding it hard to express yourself fully, or feel restricted by expectations or conditions placed upon you.

I have worked with clients seeking support with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, relationship problems, low-self esteem, anger and grief. I also have experience working with people struggling with their body image, focus and attention, and experience of gender.

In your sessions, you may wish to explore life events, whether recent or from your past, and consider how they've shaped you or how they affect you today. You might use the time to examine your emotions, relationships, patterns of thinking and behaving. We can focus on external factors affecting your wellbeing, or create space to explore subtle experiences on the edge of your awareness, things you may have sensed but have not yet fully made sense of.

Whatever you decide to bring to therapy, I aim to meet you as you are, with empathy and acceptance. 

Initial meeting 

It's not always easy to find the right counsellor. In my experience, it can take a little bit of time to develop a trusting therapeutic relationship, but we often get a sense of who we might feel comfortable talking to after a brief introduction. 

With this in mind, I offer a free 20-30 minute online chat, to help give you a sense of what it might be like to work together. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about me, and how I might be able to support you. All initial meetings are fully confidential, and there is no expectation or obligation for you to book any further sessions. 

First Session

If you decide to book a session, I will send over a contract prior to our first session. This is a document which covers practicalities, ethical considerations, and other information you might need. If you have any questions about anything in our working agreement we can go over it together.