Jonathan D Smith, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Jonathan D Smith

Edinburgh EH5 English
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Jonathan D Smith, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Jonathan D Smith

Edinburgh EH5 English
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My Approach

I am a qualified Psychodynamic Psychotherapist. I work in a relational way that emphasizes the central importance of being valued and the trauma that results from the sanctuary of the valued self being violated when others do not respond with needed mirroring and attunement to a person either in childhood or later throughout the life cycle. Exploring repeating patterns in relationships and discovering creative ways of altering these patterns are central aspects of my approach. I consider the therapeutic relationship to be key to a person discovering new ways of relating to others and new or different ways of viewing themselves. I consider play and creativity to be essential aspects of the life of adults as well as children.

About Me

I have a very wide range of experience of offering psychodynamic psychotherapy in the NHS and in student counselling for students training in the performing arts. I have been a Clinical Service Lead with responsibility for Staff Counselling and Well-being in a Mental Health NHS Trust and I have worked extensively in Primary Care counselling services, working closely with GP's and other Health care professionals. I have considerable experience of offering short-term therapy and have published several articles on this topic.

I work with

  • Individuals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

I have a very wide experience of working with people who are anxious including Panic attacks. Providing a space in which the relational context of the anxiety or panic can be explored can be helpful in enabling a person to obtain a different or new perspective on their anxiety. Feelings of anxiety or Panic which may seem to come 'out of the blue' can be made sense of and this can result in a lessening of these symptoms. Other feelings linked to the anxiety or panic can be explored and this may include identifying relational patterns and the origins of the anxiety or panic in earlier difficult life experiences.
I have a very wide experience of offering therapy to people who have experienced a bereavement. This may involve the loss of a close relationship or a family member or other kinds of loss such as the loss of a job or good health. Providing a place in which a person has an opportunity to express their feelings or explore the difficulty that they may experience in being able to express their feelings as well as thinking about the meaning of the loss and how to make sense of this, can be part of what is therapeutically helpful.
I have very extensive experience in working with people who are experiencing depression or low mood. Exploring the relational context in which the low mood or depression arises can be a part of the therapeutic work as well as having an opportunity to reflect upon feelings more widely that may be linked to the depression. Providing a space in which a person can experience some support in relation to their sense of worth and value can also be helpful in lessening feelings of depression or low mood.
I have worked with very many staff members who have been traumatized in their work place settings either being subjected to violent assault, or witnessing a violent assault or having worked closely with a patient who has committed suicide. I also have wide experience of supporting people who have experienced other traumas such as being the victim of a street crime or the loss of a close relative or friend as a result of an accident or suicide. Providing a place in which a person can make sense of the trauma and its personal meaning or grieving the loss that may result from the trauma can be helpful ways of approaching the trauma which can then result in a lessening of symptoms such as flashbacks, startle reactions or nightmares.
I have a very wide wide and specialist experience in working with people experiencing relationship difficulties in intimate and sexual relationships as well wider family relationships and difficulties in workplace and social relationships or friendships. Exploring repeating relational patterns which can included their origin can be part of the work of enabling a person to identify more satisfying and fulfilling ways relating to others.

Types of Therapies Offered

  • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist

Types of sessions

  • Face to Face - Long Term
  • Face to Face - Short Term
  • Online Therapy
  • Telephone Therapy

Edinburgh Office

5 East Trinity Road
Edinburgh EH5 3DZ
United Kingdom

  Wheelchair accessible View Map

UKCP College

  • Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis College (CPJAC)
Jonathan D Smith

Jonathan D Smith

Edinburgh EH5
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