Derek Smith

Derek is a former teacher and youth worker who brings his relational focus to bear in his therapeutic and supervisory work. As a therapist he is interested in attachment theory, relational psychotherapy, social justice, and the neuroscience that underlies the therapeutic pursuit. Derek uses a variety of person-centered, analytic, and trauma-informed approaches to tailor-make what will fit best for a given client and works with interns and candidates to collaboratively explore their own theories of change and theoretical orientations.

Derek is an RCT (Registered Counselling Therapist) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists as well as a CCC (Canadian Certified Counsellor) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

Derek has been supervising interns with Couch of Hope since 2023 and recently took on the role of Co-lead Supervisor. He has thus far worked with several interns to successfully complete their practicum requirements as well as to provide quality care to their clients.

Derek is also a father and consults with the school-based program GuysWork which aims to help young men and boys to examine the gender norms that affect their health and wellbeing.