My name is Maria Smith and I am an Accredited and Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy. I am blessed to have a rich pallet of counselling experiences with individuals and young people in various settings such as private practice, fostering, looked after children and young people, schools, youth centres, churches, charities and non profit organisations.

I consider myself to be a unique therapist with experience in both secular and spiritual worlds. Originally from Eastern Europe I have lived in a few countries and worked in a multicultural non profit organisation where I met people from almost all walks of life. Perhaps this is why I find it easy to relate to people and am often described as warm, honest and open. My own belief is that all people are born to be good and achieve in life, however we are conditioned by our environments and those around us. This is the therapeutic frame in which I work as a humanistic, person centred counsellor. I also believe that we function on many different levels such as physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual and all these levels seek to find harmony (integrate and communicate) and which can be overwhelming, but not impossible to establish.

I speak three languages at native level and have offered counselling in these languages which was both interesting and very rewarding.

I have first hand experience in the healing and restoring effects of counselling (to name a few) which I also believe give credibility and authenticity to my work. My own” wonderful” experience of counselling has helped me and shaped me into the counsellor I am today. I have tried alternative ways which have also helped and influenced me off course, but I can say counselling has added that extra special WAY to my way into life.

I take my work very seriously which is why I spend a lot of my time researching, reading, attending seminars and meetings with other professionals in order to find the best way to help my clients. I value each and every client regardless of their identity, status or ethnicity. I aim to be non-judgmental, confidential and to provide a safe and healthy environment to develop relationships with my clients.

I have particular interest in attachment issues, trauma, identity, family dynamics and family matters. I also have a personal interest in Mental Health and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and I adhere totally to the BACP professional and ethical framework. I have professional indemnity insurance and I work in the historic City of Rochester, Kent.

I offer both long term and short term counselling. I also operate an affordable scheme with a lower number of sessions for those who are on low income or whom are genuinely unable to afford counselling.

As part of my requirements I see a BACP Accredited Supervisor regularly, this is to ensure that my work is therapeutic and in accordance with the requirements set in the guidelines of the BACP which I am a registered member of.

Areas of Work

Fostering: any issues relating to Fostering weather you are a Foster Parent/Carer or Fostered I have extensive experience in working with loss, bereavement, attachment difficulties and trauma.

What happens next? 

When you contact me, I will ask you a few questions after which I will let you know dates for a possible assessment/meeting.