Annabelle Smith - Counsellor & Psychotherapist
Time To Fly Counselling
Working with Young People 16+ and Adults.
Specialising in: Anxiety, Emotional Eating, OCD, PTSD and Childhood Trauma & Abuse.
Hi there and thank you for visiting my website. It’s lovely to meet you! I’d like to take a moment to tell you a little about myself, my specialities, and why I might be the right counsellor for you.
If there’s anything I don’t cover or you’d like to know more about, please don’t hesitate to reach out — I’m just a message or call away.
Annabelle
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I have a special interest and advanced training in the following areas:
Anxiety: Helping individuals manage and reduce the overwhelming effects of anxiety.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Supporting clients in understanding and managing intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
Historic Child Abuse and Trauma: Including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse, as well as neglect.
Emotional Eating: Addressing the emotional triggers behind eating behaviours and fostering a healthier relationship with food.
Additionally, I am a trained Rewind Practitioner, which means I use the Rewind Technique to treat trauma and phobias in a non-intrusive and highly effective way.
I am also a Survivor to Thriver Practitioner, helping individuals who have experienced trauma move beyond simply surviving to truly thriving.
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Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with a wide range of issues, including:
Anger Management: Helping clients understand and manage their anger in healthier ways.
Attachment Issues: Supporting individuals in exploring and improving their relationships.
Bereavement and Grief: Including pet bereavement, offering compassionate support during times of loss.
Bullying: Whether in school or the workplace, helping clients rebuild confidence and self-esteem.
Depression: Providing tools and support to navigate feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Gender Identity: Offering a safe and supportive space to explore identity.
Family Relationships: Helping clients navigate complex family dynamics.
Neurodivergence: providing a calming space no matter when your diagnosis was made. In particular ADHD and Autism.
Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts: Providing a non-judgmental space to explore and address these feelings.
Self-Esteem: Supporting clients in building confidence and self-worth.
Stress: Helping individuals manage and reduce the impact of stress on their lives.
Trauma: Working with clients to process and heal from traumatic experiences.
Whatever you’re going through, I’m here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach outso we can work together to find the support you deserve.
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I am an Integrative Counsellor, which means I use a variety of therapeutic approaches to tailor my work to your unique needs.
I believe that one size doesn’t fit all, and I adapt my style to suit you.
The modalities I use include:
Person-Centred Therapy: A non-judgmental approach that focuses on how you see yourself, helping you feel accepted and supported as you work toward your goals.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Exploring unconscious processes and past experiences to understand how they influence your current behaviours and emotions.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Using practical techniques to help you change unwanted thoughts and behaviours, reduce stress, and manage life’s challenges.
I also enjoy working creatively when the time is right, using tools like pebbles, colours, shapes, and even playdoh to help clients express themselves in new ways!
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After earning a BSc in Life Sciences, majoring in Psychology, I worked in various industries, from health to education, with people of all ages.
My passion for psychology and counselling remained constant, and I pursued further training to become an integrative counsellor.
My qualifications include:
Level 2 and 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills, CPCAB
Level 4 and 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, CPCAB
Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CPCA
I am an Accredited Member of BACP (No. 380481), which stands for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
This means that I have undergone rigorous assessment and evaluation to meet the BACP's strict standards for professional practice, so you can rest assured that you are choosing a qualified and ethical counsellor.
I’ve gained invaluable experience working with adults and young people in a variety of settings, including:
Bupa: Currently working as a Counsellor for Bupa alongside my private practice.
Wirral Mind: Supporting adults with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Childline: Working as a staff counsellor, helping young people navigate challenges such as bullying, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders.
Why I Might Be The Right Counsellor For You
Counselling is not just a profession for me — it’s a passion. I truly believe in the power of therapy and the positive impact it can have on your life.
My approach is warm, empathetic, and tailored to your needs, and I’m committed to creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
I’ve been fortunate to work with some truly amazing people, and I’m proud to say that my clients have shared positive feedback about their experiences with me which you can see below.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Counselling is a talking therapy that can go a long way in helping people come to terms with problems they are facing. The sessions give you time to talk about anything that is going on for you in a safe and confidential way.
This might be because you want to change things, there might be something you are struggling to come to terms with - whatever the reason counselling could well be the answer for you.
By talking about the things that are going on for you, you will be able to get a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings, while at the same time I will help empower you to identify new solutions, allowing you to facilitate change and have the life you would like/deserve.
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I work with young people aged 16+ and adults.
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I provide face-to-face counselling in Chester and Heswall. I also provide Online Therapy.
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Yes, I provide Online Counselling Sessions via Zoom, or sessions by phone.
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Yes, I am an Accredited Member of BACP (No. 380481), which stands for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This means that I have undergone rigorous assessment and evaluation to meet the BACP's strict standards for professional practice, so you can rest assured that you are choosing a qualified and ethical counsellor.
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I have a special interest and further training in:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
All forms of historic child abuse and trauma including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, neglect
I also have experience of helping people with:
Anger management
Attachment issues
Bereavement and grief, including pet bereavement
Bullying (School and workplace)
Depression
Gender identity
Family relationships
Self-harm
Self-esteem tress
Suicidal thoughts
Trauma
Additionally, I am a Rewind Practitioner which means that I have been trained to use the Rewind Technique to treat trauma and phobias.
I am also a Survivor to Thriver Practitioner which means that I can help individuals who have experienced trauma to move beyond simply ‘surviving’.
In my time as a counsellor, I have worked with so many different issues.
Whatever it is, please just reach out so I can give you the support you deserve. Find out more about my experience and qualifications.
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I provide a confidential and safe space so that you are comfortable to work towards the changes you would like to make.
Everything you share with me is confidential unless you mention anything which means you or someone you know is likely to come to serious harm, you mention anything to do with the drug trafficking act, the children’s act or money laundering.
View my privacy policy to understand more about how your personal data is processed and kept safe.
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Our first session together will include an assessment so that I understand more about the challenges you are facing, and at the same time it gives you the opportunity to see if I am the right counsellor for you. At the end of the first session you can decide if you would like to continue working with me and we can arrange further appointments.
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The number of sessions you will need will very much depend on your individual circumstances. For example, someone who needs help with anxiety might not need as many sessions as someone who has experienced years of childhood trauma. I can however say that I will be open and honest with you throughout and we can look at this together. Regular reviews are done to see how well things are going and what the next steps will be. Remember the choice is always yours.
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Before you first session I will send you information by email that hopefully covers everything you need to know before we meet.
During your first session we will spend some time going through the counselling agreement together. This gives us a chance to look at what I can offer you as a therapist and gives me an idea what it is you are hoping to get from our time together.
I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation by video or phone whichever suits, giving us a chance to have a chat before our first session.
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The main difference between a counsellor, therapist, and psychotherapist lies in their focus and depth of work.
Counsellors typically provide short-term, solution-focused support for specific issues like stress or grief, using practical tools and coping strategies.
Therapist is a broad term that can refer to anyone providing therapy, including counsellors and psychotherapists, and their approach varies depending on their training.
Psychotherapists, however, focus on deeper, long-term emotional work, exploring the root causes of issues such as trauma or chronic mental health conditions. They often have more extensive training and work with both mild and severe psychological challenges.
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Yes, of course. You are not locked into any contracts and the choice is always yours.
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For full details visit my pricing page.
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For cancellations 24 hours’ notice is required.
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Get in touch to arrange a free informal 15-minute chat about what you are looking for and to see if we are happy to work together.
Take the First Step Towards Feeling Better
If you’re ready to explore how counselling could help, get in touch. We’ll have a chat about what’s going on for you and how I can support you. There’s no pressure — just a chance to see if this feels like the right fit for you.
You don’t have to face this alone. Let’s take that first step together.
Annabelle
Counselling & Therapy In-Person & Online
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Chester, Cheshire
Face-to-face sessions available in Chester.
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Heswall, Wirral
Face-to-face sessions available in Hewsall.
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Online Counselling
Therapy online via Zoom or phone.
Sigmund Freud