Dr Georgia Smith
Why Work With a Psychologist, rather than a coach?
Founders often turn to coaches for performance and strategic advice—but therapy offers something different. As a clinical psychologist, I’m trained to go deeper. I help you understand the psychological patterns driving your reactions, decisions, and relationships, especially under pressure. Where coaching may focus on outcomes, therapy focuses on insight and transformation. It's not just about solving a problem—it's about understanding why it keeps coming up, and how to sustainably shift it.
Clinical Psychologist | Founder Therapist | Co-Founder Relationship Specialist
Founder of Vibe Check Therapy
Building a company is deeply personal. Behind every pitch deck and product roadmap are people—ambitious, driven, and under immense pressure. As a clinical psychologist specialising in working with founders and co-founders, I help you navigate the emotional and relational challenges of entrepreneurship.
I’m a HCPC-registered clinical psychologist with over five years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and founding teams in London and the South East. Whether you're dealing with co-founder conflict, burnout, imposter syndrome, or struggling to separate your identity from your business, I provide a space to reflect, reset, and lead with clarity.
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HCPC registration number: PYL045567
My approach
I’m an integrative practitioner, drawing on a range of evidence-based therapies to support you. My style is collaborative, curious, and direct—grounded in psychological science and attuned to the intensity of startup life.
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I use approaches including:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): To manage burnout, anxiety, and unhelpful thinking patterns common in founder life.
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Narrative Therapy: To help you reshape your leadership story and reconnect with your purpose.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): To align your decisions with your core values, not just external expectations.
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Systemic Therapy: To improve communication and resolve conflict within co-founder relationships or leadership teams.
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Whether you're facing challenging co-founder dynamics, preparing for funding conversations, or trying to lead while staying mentally well, therapy isn’t just a personal investment—it can be a strategic one, too.
Education
2021-2024
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Essex
I worked clinically with individuals, couple's, families, and organisations across the lifespan. I specialised in supporting young people and their families adapting to life following illness and injuries. Simultaneously, I worked to support hospital staff experiencing burnout and stress.
2018-2019
Evidence Based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions, University of East Anglia
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Postgraduate certificate in Evidence Based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions
2012-2015
Bsc Psychology, Cardiff University
Completed modules including developmental psychology, clinical psychology, neuroscience of learning and memory, thinking and consciousness, stress and disease, behavioural genetics, social and neuroscience perspectives of emotion.
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