Gary Smith (UKCP registered, MBACP accred.) I am an experienced psychotherapist offering individual, couple and group Counselling, Psychotherapy and Creative Therapy in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Psychotherapy, Counselling, Creative Therapy, Gestalt Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, Supervision
Psychotherapy and Counselling for Individuals, Group Therapy, Couples Counselling and Family Therapy
“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, does the heart find its morning and is refreshed.” Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
I OFFER A BLENDED APPROACH WITH SOME IN PERSON AND SOME ONLINE SESSIONS USING ZOOM.
IF THERE IS INTEREST I WILL BE OFFERING AD HOC ONE OFF SESSIONS OF WALK AND TALK IN SOUTH QUEENSFERRY ALONG THE FORTH SHORE WALK, ALONGSIDE WOODLAND AND BEACHES. THIS WILL START IN THE SPRING 2024
IN PERSON WEEKLY THERAPY GROUP AT WELLSPRING
NEW GROUP STARTING EARLY 2025 - SEE GROUP PAGE
Gestalt Psychotherapy, Counselling, Psychodrama and Creative Therapy are ways of exploring and understanding yourself, your relationship to the world around you as well as your own unique inner world. Many people find counselling and therapy a helpful way to explore issues and difficulties in their life, others may use it as a form of personal development, to achieve greater clarity and fulfillment.
I work within a humanistic and integrative approach, and draw on my background in the creative arts. My training is in gestalt psychotherapy, psychodrama psychotherapy, and I have completed a diploma in supervision with Relationships Scotland.
I would consider myself a Pluralistic Therapist and Supervisor.
Whilst giving importance to the developing client therapist relationship I also place great emphasis on giving space for clients to bring issues at their own pace and explore what is nourishing and what is less satisfying in their lives. I aim to support clients to achieve a greater awareness of how they relate and interact in the world and to foster a sense of personal responsibility and autonomy. Awareness of body, deeper breathing, meditation and a mindful and reflective approach are all part of the therapeutic process. I have over 30 years experience of personal development work, with both individuals and groups, including working within mental health projects, teaching in further education and as a freelance community artist.
"The wound is the place where the Light enters you." Rumi.
In addition to my Gestalt Psychotherapy training I completed a 4 year Advanced Diploma training in Psychodrama Psychotherapy. This training emphasised working with groups and exploring issues through embodied action.
I ran a weekly psychodrama therapy group for 5 years and I am currently offering 10 week therapy groups at Wellspring. I also regularly offer Psychodrama weekend groups and Creative Therapy workshops involving creative art and action drama methods.click on Group Work page to find out more.
I have experience of working with individuals with issues of stress, anxiety, bereavement, depression, work related issues, personal crisis, trauma, lack of confidence, low self-esteem or just a loss of direction and fulfillment in life. I also have experience with couples and families in dealing with relationship issues, and I have worked as a counsellor with young children in a Primary School.
No problem is too small to be taken seriously and to benefit from being heard.
I like to work in collaboration with clients to devise the most appropriate way to help you move forward in your life.
I recognise the importance of appreciating differences between people and their lifestyle choices. In my practice I aim to operate an equal opportunity and open access policy, and to provide a non judgemental service to clients irrespective of class, race, ethnicity, age, gender, religious affinity, disability or sexual orientation.
“We are the mirror as well as the face in it. We are tasting the taste this minute of eternity. We are the pain and what cures the pain. We are the sweet, cold water, and the jar that pours.” Rumi.
Client testimonial - "Therapy was a life-changing process for me. It changed the way I think about experiences in my life, how I approach difficult feelings about those experiences. Therapy has also been a liberating experience for me where I find that I can no longer hide behind old behaviours and thinking. It's a very nice experience when I find myself able to think and behave differently to problems, to difficult emotions or life in general. I found Gary as my therapist to be very empathic and safe to share very personal issues with. What I've learnt in therapy is something that I will carry within me for the rest of my life."
I work from;
13 Smith's Place, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 8NT (Wellspring),
The venue is centrally situated and easily accessible by car, train and bus (free parking in the street).
“The universe is infinite creativity. Spontaneity is the constant companion of creativity. It is the existential factor 'intervening’ for creative processes to be released.” Jacob L Moreno.
click here to find out more about the kinds of problems I can help with and costs.
click here to find out more about gestalt psychotherapy.
click here to find out more about psychodrama.
I also offer group therapy workshops, organisational training and team building sessions. click here
I am also a Playback Theatre practitioner and a member of Playback Edinburgh theatre group. click here
click here to find out how to contact Gary.
