Soul Works

SOUL-WORKS SESSIONS - meeting outside the box

A Soul-Works session offers an alternative space to either supervision or therapy and is something different. It is mainly geared towards experienced therapists or health professionals who have been through a previous therapeutic process and are now looking for something else.  This way of working is less defined than therapy and recognises unexpected new possibilities which emerge, unique to the person and the situation they bring.  The Soul-Works session sets a space where the relationship and work is more fluid.

Soul-Works is an agreed and regulated meeting where the focus is on any issue the person attending brings. There may or may not be a goal or an outcome.   People can bring aspects of their professional life which do not belong in supervision or something from their personal experience that allows work and individual circumstance to come together. People come because they want a different kind of accompanying and set their own agenda that may vary from session to session.

Similar to therapy, the work is confidential, but the boundary is lighter. It differs for each person and is discussed, co-worked and agreed at the beginning of the work.  I may already know you or have worked with you before, and after sessions are over, we may return to our previous form of relationship.     The relationship is mutual and co-participatory and occasionally I can be available for “outside the room” accompanying.  I am open to negotiate how we can practically respond to what you need from our work. 

 A Soul-Works session lasts typically 50 minutes. Sessions can be on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. 

WHAT A SOUL WORKS SESSION IS LIKE

It’s hard to put into words what my learning with Mary has been like. I’d like to say she has been my therapist- but the experience has been much more than that. We’ve spoken on levels of soulful, practical no bullshit what is and isn’t ok boundaries, she’s been straight with me, I’ve been straight with her. She’s held room for me to find my true voice and relationship to parts of myself. But more than any of that - she has taught me it’s ok to be radically who I am. 

To listen to myself, to deepen in my own whispers. Mary has quietly guided me to respond to life from these intuitive aspects of myself. This has not always been easy, and I would be lying to say I have got it down every day- but the experience has been like finding my own soul/ intuition/ mind / spirit as a compass for my everyday interactions and life decisions. 

And for this, I believe what Mary teaches is how to live radically - radically confident, radically truthful, radically unapologetic. It sounds out there - but that is what she inspires in me. I feel able to sense when my actions or energy is out of this sacred alignment.   I hope this short statement begins to share with others what might happen when they embark on work with Mary. It’s not just therapy, for therapy’s sake. You can throw the BS out the window. 

I am very grateful for Mary being in my life. She has influenced my soul, helped me to heal my relationships and has helped me be the person I am today. Mary has a gift- and one I believe she has curated and consciously channelled into helping others.

 I would very much encourage anyone who has a whisper that it may be of help to work with Ms Smail, to please do it.

Thank you, Mary.

Dramatherapist and Senior Staff Counsellor, Imperial College Healthcare Trust NHS .