Colleen Smith

My name is Colleen and I discovered Havening in 2020 and realised this is the very strategy I had been waiting for! I am so glad that I had the vision that this gem would support me in my personal life, and in my work as a Counsellor and a Foster Carer.

My whole life I have dedicated my career to working with children and supporting them, alongside their families. In 2012 I set up my independent private practice “Family Support “(now Colleen Smith Counselling) having previously worked in a variety of aspects and positions in educational settings supporting children and their families for over 37 years. Always in search of training to improve outcomes for the beautiful people whom I work with. I genuinely believe that I have now found the diamond of training Havening Technique and I am including it across all areas of my vocation.

I am fully qualified as an integrative person-centred counsellor which centres around my belief system that the working relationship is key, my focus is understanding client needs, working at their pace and enabling them to make the steps to make change. I work alongside children, young people, families, and adults which includes having the honour of working in primary schools.

I deeply care about the health and welfare of children, families, parents/carers, young people, and adult well-being.

I have a compassionate, hardworking nature and a keen interest in self-care and complementary medicine which has led me to train further in Mindfulness, Relax Kids, Trauma and Somatic Experiences. I weave the Havening Technique seamlessly into my work, it has become an accomplished technique for trauma, enabling me to assist and support those in need equally allowing me to dip into my other areas of expertise using a variety of best fit techniques and skills, including creative work-dependent on client’s preference. All of which can help to provide great outcomes alleviating stress and anxiety.

I am a strong believer that our body, mind, and spirit are all interconnected and am passionate about spirituality. I have undertaken training around the importance of ACES- Adverse Child Experiences and the impact on our mental and physical health.

I offer a non-judgemental approach, encouragement, compassion, respect, and kindness. I have a special interest in the latest research on neuroscience, therapeutic parenting, and trauma which jigsaws perfectly with Havening Technique.

Therapeutic parenting is an innovative approach when choosing how to understand traumatised behaviour and respond appropriately to children and young people. Other areas of strengths are attachment and bereavement work all that can be supported by the Havening Technique beautifully.

As well as running a private practice I collaborate closely with individuals, and other organisations in a variety of ways offering 1:1, group work, staff meetings, training, workshops, and supervision. I look forward to sharing my love of Havening at some of these events.

I am extremely excited at my client’s testimonial’s whilst working with the Havening Technique often completing work in fewer sessions, compared to traditional counselling. It is helpful in breaking down unhelpful patterns, delinking the feelings to traumatic memories and helping people with psychological problems, particularly those related to phobias, PTSD, and anxiety. Clients have particularly enjoyed the scientific research available to support this form of therapy.