Cj Smith, MBACP, PG Dip, MA (Online)

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Psychotherapists and Counsellors

About the Therapist

About the therapist:

Hello! My name’s Cj (they/them pronouns). I am the founder of Rain or Shine, an LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychotherapy and Counselling Practice based online.

With the values of inclusion, compassion and empowering clients at its heart, I started my practice to help LGBTQ+ and GSRD (Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diverse) people explore issues that were troubling them - and support them in realising their full potential.

My calling to practice LGBTQ+/GSRD affirmative psychotherapy was inspired by my own lived experience being queer, trans, non-binary and neuro-divergent, so I understand how important finding a therapist who shares your lived experience can be when exploring issues concerning your gender identity, sexual orientation, relationship style or neurotype.

I hold a Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy (Distinction) from UCLAN and a Diploma in Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity from Pink Therapy). I am BACP accredited and have been awarded advanced accreditation through Pink Therapy, as a reflection of the depth of my experience and specialist training in working with GSRD/ LGBTQ+ clients.

Before working together, you can arrange a free half hour ‘taster’ session. This is an opportunity for you to tell me about yourself, get a sense of how we dialogue together and find out more about my approach, values and professional background. As a next step I invite you either to click here to check out my website or , if you already know you would like to work together, click here to fill in my registration form, and then book a free 30-minute session to find out more about my practice and how we could work together.

Please note, Whilst based in South Manchester, I am currently working online only.

Sexual identity:

Kink - BDSM
Other
Queer

Gender identity: Non-binary

Gender history: Not as assigned at birth

Non-monogamy: Yes

Intersex: No

Trans: Yes

Neurodivergent: Yes

Personal pronouns: They/them

Accredited GSRD Therapist: Advanced

Qualifications - Links to websites:

2022: Diploma in Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity, Pink Therapy (NCS accredited)

2018: Postgraduate Diploma, Integrative Psychotherapy, University of Central Lancashire, Distinction (BACP accredited)

2006: Certificate, Counselling Skills (level 3), Manchester Adult Education Service, pass

2005: Certificate, Counselling Skills (level 2), Manchester Adult Education Service, pass

Qualifications - Additional:

Award	Awarding body	Year of award
Master of the Arts, Sexual Dissidence in Literature and Culture, Distinction	University of Sussex	2011
Bachelor of the Arts, Literary Studies and Sciences (Psychology) 2:1	University of Manchester	2002
Advanced Clinical Skills in Compassion Focused Therapy	Compassionate Mind Foundation	2020
Compassion Focused Therapy for Shame Based Difficulties in Sexual Minorities	Compassionate Mind Foundation	2021

Experience and approach:

Experience

I have been practicing as an Integrative Psychotherapist since 2017. In 2018 I received my Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy from UCLAN University, graduating with Distinction, and I set up my private practice, Rain or Shine Psychotherapy, in 2019.

Since 2019 I have been working exclusively with LGBTQQIIA+/Gender, Sexuality Relationship diverse clients. Many of my clients are trans, non-binary and gender diverse and/ or neurodivergent. To meet the needs of this client group, I am neurodivergence affirmative and trauma informed. I have completed the Pink Therapy Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity Diploma, a qualification which has enriched my understanding of LGBTQIA/ Gender, sexuality and relationship diversity as lived experiences.

My psychotherapeutic work is informed by my earlier career in trans advocacy and LGBTQ support in the LGBTQ+ Charity sector, disability support and education studying literature through an anti-oppressive lens. You can find full details of my qualifications and professional resume by clicking here.

Approach

I am trained in an Integrative, Person-centred and Compassion Focused approach.

At the core of the psychotherapy I offer is the belief that when people are shown empathy, unconditional acceptance and validation they can learn to foster these positive qualities in their relationship to themselves, and live more authentically, with greater access to their human potential.

I recognise that clients who are LGBTQ+/ GSRD often face unique additional challenges, such as discrimination, lack of understanding, microagressions, or navigating the world as a neurodivergent person, and my skills, experience and training are adapted to meet these needs.

My Core Values

Treating you with empathy and unconditional acceptance

Understanding and respecting your identities and unique lived experiences

Working compassionately and fostering a sense of belonging

Acknowledging that differentials of societal power and privilege exist in all therapeutic relationships and addressing this in a sensitive and informed way.

More details on the therapeutic approaches I use:

I work in an inclusive, relational, compassion focused and anti-oppressive way. What this means is that:

As a Person-Centred therapist I place the needs, wishes and beliefs of you, the client, at the centre of our therapeutic work together, work with wherAs an Inclusive Therapist I strive work in an LGBT+ affirmative, accessible and intersectional way

As a Relational therapist, rather than seeing the client as an Island, I strive to understand your experience in terms of the therapeutic relationship between us and how this might mirror other relationships in your life

You can find out more about how I work here; and more about what these terms mean here.

Approaches: