Counselling in Gateshead & Online Across the UK
A calm, safe space to talk, reflect, understand what’s happening, and move towards the changes that matter to you.
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How counselling may help
People come to counselling for many different reasons.
You might be experiencing anxiety, low mood, stress, grief, relationship difficulties, self-criticism, life changes, identity questions, or a sense of feeling stuck. You might not have clear words for what is wrong, but know that something does not feel right.
Counselling is not about being told what to do. It is a space where we can explore what is happening for you, what things mean to you, and what might help you move towards greater understanding, choice, and change.
Counselling is not always the right support for every person or every situation. If I believe another service, practitioner, or type of support may be more appropriate, I will discuss this with you respectfully.
How I work
My main therapeutic approach is Transactional Analysis, supported by a relational and person-centred way of working.
This means we may explore patterns, feelings, beliefs, choices, relationships, and earlier experiences where these are relevant to what you want from counselling.
I will not tell you what to do. My aim is to work alongside you, helping us think carefully about what is happening, what you may be carrying, and what might support meaningful change.
Counselling is collaborative. We will usually agree what you want to use counselling for, review how the work is going, and adjust the focus where helpful.
Counselling with me is likely to involve:
- a calm and respectful space to talk openly
- careful listening and thoughtful reflection
- exploring patterns in thought, feelings and relationships
- developing greater self-awareness and self-understanding
- working at a pace that feels manageable and purposeful
Ways to access counselling, location, and cost
Different people feel comfortable in different counselling settings. Some people prefer being in the same room as their counsellor. Others find it easier to talk from home, by video, by voice only, or by telephone.
The sections below give a brief overview of each option. You can open each one to read more, or skip ahead to what happens when you contact me.
Location: Gateshead, North East of England
Cost: £60 per 50-minute session
Face-to-face counselling means we meet in the same room at an agreed counselling venue.
Advantages
Face-to-face counselling may be helpful because:
- It offers a regular, private space away from home, work, or daily responsibilities.
- Being physically present in the same room can make tone of voice, body language, facial expression, silence, pace, and emotional expression easier to notice and work with.
- Some people find it easier to feel connected, grounded, or focused when counselling happens in a clear physical space.
- It may create a stronger boundary between counselling time and the rest of the week.
- It does not depend on internet connection, video platforms, or phone signal.
Things to Consider
Face-to-face counselling also involves some practical considerations:
- You need to be able to travel to the venue regularly enough for counselling to feel consistent
- You may need to think about transport, parking, mobility, cost, weather or time pressures.
- You may be attending a shared or hired building, so other people may be present in the wider venue.
- You may want to allow some time after sessions before returning to work, driving, caring responsibilities, or other commitments.
Location: Remote (UK Only)
Cost: £60 per 50-minute session
Online video counselling means we meet at an agreed time using a secure video platform.
Advantages
Online video counselling may be helpful because:
- It allows us to see and hear each other without needing to meet in the same physical space.
- It can offer some of the relational feel of face-to-face counselling, while reducing travel time.
- You may be able to access counselling from a familiar, comfortable, or more convenient private space.
- It can be useful if travel, health, mobility, caring responsibilities, or time pressures make face-to-face sessions harder.
- Seeing each other means facial expression, partial body language, tone, and pace can still be part of the work.
Things to Consider
Online video counselling also needs some careful thought:
- You need a private space where you are unlikely to be overheard or interrupted.
- You need a suitable device, stable internet connection, and enough privacy on your screen.
- Technology can sometimes fail, so we will agree a backup plan before counselling begins.
- Some people find video calls tiring, exposing, or less comfortable than being in the same room.
- It may not be suitable if you cannot safely or privately speak from where you are.
Location: Remote (UK Only)
Cost: £60 per 50-minute session
Online voice-only counselling means we meet through an agreed online platform using audio only. We can hear each other, but we do not use video.
Advantages
Online voice-only counselling may be helpful because:
- Some people feel less self-conscious or more able to speak freely when they are not on video.
- It may help you focus on your words, feelings, tone, and inner experience.
- It can be more flexible than travelling to a physical venue.
- It may be useful if you want remote counselling but find video too intense, distracting, or exposing.
Things to Consider
Online voice-only counselling also has limitations:
- We do not have facial expression or body language available in the same way.
- Misunderstandings can sometimes happen more easily when visual information is missing.
- You still need a private space, suitable device, and reliable internet connection.
- Technology can fail, so we will agree a backup plan before counselling begins.
- It may not be suitable if you cannot speak safely or privately from where you are.
Location: Remote (UK Only)
Cost: £60 per 50-minute session
Telephone counselling means we meet by voice call at an agreed time. There is no video and no online platform to log into.
Advantages
Telephone counselling may be helpful because:
- It is simple and familiar for many people.
- You do not need video or an online counselling platform.
- It may work better if your internet connection is unreliable.
- Some people find it easier to talk when they are not being seen.
- It can make counselling more accessible if travel, location, mobility, or time pressures are difficult.
Things to Consider
Telephone counselling also needs some care:
- We cannot see each other, so facial expression, body language, and visual cues are not available.
- You need a private place where you are unlikely to be overheard or interrupted.
- Phone signal and battery life can affect the session.
- Because we are not in the same physical location, we need clear emergency and backup contact information.
- Telephone counselling may not be suitable for every person or situation, and we will think about suitability as part of the assessment process.
Not sure which option is right for you?
That is completely okay.
You do not need to decide before contacting me. You can simply say that you are interested in counselling but unsure which format would suit you the best.
As part of the enquiry and assessment process, we can think together about what feels safe, practical, accessible, and appropriate.
What happens when you contact me?
The first step is to send a brief enquiry through the contact form.
You do not need to explain everything that has brought you to counselling at this stage. A short message is enough.
Please avoid including detailed personal, health, risk, or counselling information in the contact form. If counselling may be suitable, I will send you the relevant information pack and explain the next steps before asking for more detailed information.
After you contact me, the usual process is:
- I reply to your enquiry and send the relevant information pack for the type of counselling you are interested in, where you have selected one. Then, if you would like to continue:
- Before detailed personal information is collected, you will be asked to read and acknowledge the relevant counselling privacy notice.
- You complete an initial information form over a secure platform, or we complete it together in session.
- I review the information and complete a suitability assessment. I may need to ask some follow-up questions or arrange a fuller assessment discussion before deciding whether counselling appears suitable.
- If counselling appears suitable, we review and complete the counselling agreement.
- Counselling begins only after the relevant agreement has been signed or acknowledged.
If I believe another practitioner, service, or form of support may be more appropriate, I will discuss this with you and offer signposting where possible.
My professional standards and training
I am a qualified counsellor and a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). As a Registered Member, my professional membership is aligned with Column A of the SCoPEd framework, which sets out shared training, practice and competence standards across the counselling and psychotherapy professions.
I completed my Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling with Northern Guild for Psychotherapy and Counselling. I have also completed Counselling Tutor’s Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling, which supports my work with online video, online voice-only, and telephone counselling.
I work in line with the BACP Ethical Framework and only offer counselling where I believe I am appropriately trained, supervised, insured, and able to work safely and ethically.
My BACP registration can be independently verified through the BACP Register.
About Chris Smith
I’m Chris, founder of Hidden Dragon Holistics.
My counselling work is grounded in a genuine belief that people can grow in awareness, resilience, and self-understanding when they have the right space and support. I aim to offer that space with professionalism, care, and respect.
Alongside my counselling training and practice, I also bring experience from meditation practice and many years of teaching traditional martial arts. These wider parts of my background gently inform the steadiness, presence, and reflective approach I bring to my work, while counselling remains the clear focus here.
Confidentiality, privacy and safety
What you share in counselling is treated confidentially, with important limits. These may include serious risk of harm, safeguarding concerns, legal requirements, professional supervision, or another compelling professional duty to act.
The full details will be explained in the relevant counselling agreement and privacy notice before counselling begins.
Counselling is not an emergency or crisis service. I do not provide 24-hour support and may not be able to respond immediately between sessions.
If you or someone else is at immediate risk of serious harm, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
If you need urgent mental health support and it is not immediately life-threatening, you can contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option where available. You can also contact Samaritans free on 116 123.
Interested in counselling?
If you would like to ask about counselling, please use the contact form and select the type of counselling you are interested in.
If you are unsure which option may be the right fit, you can say this in your message.
Please keep your first message brief. I will send the relevant information pack and explain the next steps.