What I can help with

Anxiety

Stress

Low self-esteem

Feeling stuck or disconnected

Difficult or uncomfortable emotions

Loss and bereavement

Relationship difficulties

Family and attachment issues

Life transitions

Coping patterns that feel hard to change (including around alcohol or other behaviours)

Type of therapy

Counselling/Psychotherapy:

Person-Centred (Humanistic)

integrative and relational

IFS-informed

I am an integrative counsellor with a relational and compassionate approach to therapy. I aim to offer a space that feels steady, respectful, and non-judgemental, where your experiences are met as human rather than something to be fixed or explained away.

I hold a strong belief that the challenges and patterns we struggle with make sense in the context of our lives, and that bringing grounded compassion to these painful inner experiences is central to how I work.

Alongside this, I value making sense of experiences as well as feeling into them. Where it feels helpful, I support clients in developing insight into emotional patterns or recurring themes, while remaining attentive to the emotional impact of this exploration.

My work is rooted in relationship and in staying close to your lived experience. My background in social science further supports a contextual understanding of how family, culture, and wider social structures can shape our sense of self and the difficulties we face.



Therapy with me is about making sense of your experience in context and supporting you to relate to yourself with greater care and openness.

What I offer

I offer individual counselling for adults, working with both present-day concerns and, where helpful, the wider context of your life. Sessions are responsive and shaped around what feels most important for you in the moment. Sometimes this involves talking things through and being listened to carefully; at other times, we may gently explore emotional patterns, relationships, or formative experiences to better understand how the past may be influencing the present.

At times, we may notice different ways you respond to situations — for example, moments where you feel anxious, self-critical, overwhelmed, or more settled — and explore these responses with curiosity and compassion. Rather than trying to change anything too quickly, the focus is on understanding what these responses are communicating and what they may have needed at different points in your life.

I work at a pace that feels right for you, paying close attention to safety, trust, and what feels manageable to explore. I work face-to-face from Ownzone in Stroud, offering a confidential and supportive environment. My aim is to help you feel more grounded, connected, and able to meet yourself with greater understanding, compassion, and ease over time.

Sessions last 50 minutes and cost £60.

Contact me

Matthew Smith

www.hazelwoodtherapy.co.uk

Professional accreditation & qualification

Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (CPCAB) – Person-Centred Counselling

MA Social Research – University of Leeds

BA Social Science – University of Brighton