Max Usher Smith

I am a qualified integrative counsellor, with a Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Level 7) from The Minster Centre, the UK’s leading Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy training centre. With over 5 years’ experience of intensive psychotherapy training, I am currently completing a further MA/Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy. I am registered with British Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling (MBACP) and guided by their ethical framework. I have nearly 7 years of experience working for NHS mental health services, including as a psychotherapist. This background helped me to become an attentive listener, with experience of responding to a wide range of emotional difficulties and distress and facilitating alternative perspectives. Prior to this I worked in teaching and translation. I have an MSc in Social Anthropology (UCL), and a BA in Spanish and Portuguese (University of Manchester). Practising anthropology granted me experience of in-depth exploration of different perspectives and experiences. Areas I have researched include experiences of fatherhood and plant medicine. I have a longstanding interest in peoples’ stories and how we make sense of our lives. I am committed to non-discriminatory practice, and I welcome clients from all backgrounds and walks of life. Motivation for seeking therapy varies a lot. You may be looking to come to terms with specific life events or have a general sense that something needs to change. I will meet you as a whole person, and you can expect to be listened to with care and respect. We will discuss and reflect on your concerns at your pace, to discover new insights and new ways of addressing problems and challenges. As an integrative counsellor, I am influenced by psychodynamic theory; how the past influences patterns of thinking and how we relate to others and our experiences. I draw on humanistic and existential views of the human condition too. My approach is also informed by contemporary relational psychoanalytic theory and body psychotherapy. Together we can inquire into how experiences of anxiety and trauma show up in the body. I hold an interest in how the body and mind interconnect, as well as forms of spiritual practice. Beyond any specific theory, however, I would view you and your context, and whatever is on your mind, as the starting point for therapeutic inquiry and change. I will look to understand and respond to your unique perspective and specific issues and needs. To me, psychotherapy is a dialogue in which any area of personal experience, however difficult, is welcome to be explored. I have experience working with a wide range of emotional issues, including and relating to: depression, anxiety, grief, loss, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, trauma (including sexual abuse and the impact of violence), identity issues, existential issues, chronic conditions, self-harm, sexuality and stress. I have full insurance, and I attend regular, ongoing supervision. I can offer therapy in Spanish and Portuguese if required. I offer a free 15 minute call to discuss any queries you may have.