Up Close With: Tom Smithson
Meet the wonderful writers and patrons behind LWS.
Tom Smithson has found his calling as a therapist and a writer. Melding the two, he lives in a space where helping others and helping himself co-exist quite nicely. Take a read and be inspired by this lovely and amazing individual.
Tom Smithson
- Based in Wiltshire.
- Age 31.
- Writes: I mostly write for my work as a therapist, discussing ways of working and blogging about private practice. However my dream is to write a fiction book with a therapist as the main character.
What are you working on right now?
I am working on my debut book about working therapeutically with queer clients. It is due to be published by Karnac in 2025 — I am ever so slightly terrified! But it took 14 rejections and 3 years to get here so I won’t be stopping.
Where and when do you write?
I usually write in my office, but if I find myself getting distracted I walk to my local cafe for some writing (and some coffee & cake). I aim to join every morning session with LWS and all day on Fridays.
How do you write?
Computer all the way, I am dyslexic so anything written by hand is unreliable haha!
Why do you write?
Why not? I have one life to live, I am an existentialist and I want to live life to the full and leave the world knowing I have done something, left something behind (hopefully something good).
What inspires your creativity?
Conversation and connection. I really struggle with academic books, I find the tone hard to read. So whenever I find a book where it feels like the author is just having a chill and chat I feel inspired to do something similar.
What’s your favourite book?
Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Fear of Death by Irvin D. Yalom.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
Me: “I don’t know what I am doing” (with writing) …
Husband: “Well carry on anyway because not knowing seems to be working so far.”
What’s the one thing you would tell other/aspiring writers?
Just start, if not now, when?
How can we discover more about you and your work?
- My Website: www.newhorizoncounselling.co.uk
- My Socials:
@newhcounselling on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/newhcounselling/ - Articles and Blogs: https://www.newhorizoncounselling.co.uk/blog
- My Substack: https://thomassmithson.substack.com/subscribe
Tom’s writing view. Communication, hydration and inspiration all in one spot!
