Ian Smith , BACP

Ian Smith is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who focuses on helping people facing stress, anxiety, addiction and loss. He has ten years of experience and uses straightforward, practical conversations to help people feel heard and understood. Ian works with clients on parenting strain, relationship and intimacy concerns, mood disorders and identity issues including LGBT matters.

He prefers to begin from where each person is. That means listening first, then building on what already helps. Sessions aim to be collaborative and paced to each person's comfort. Ian uses clear, everyday language rather than clinical terms.

Ian draws on several evidence-informed methods including cognitive behavioural ideas, acceptance and commitment approaches, attachment-based thinking and client-centred skills. He mixes problem-solving, emotion regulation and values work depending on what a client needs in the moment.

People come to him for a wide range of worries - from sleep and eating difficulties through to chronic illness, grief, compassion fatigue and career change. He also supports clients dealing with trauma, parenting challenges, neurodiversity-related matters and complexities around blended families and adoption.

Sessions are offered in English and can be delivered online by video, phone, live chat or text messaging. Ian works with each person to agree a practical plan and next steps that fit their life and goals.

Practical therapy approaches for online care

Ian often uses acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioural ideas in online work. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings, clarifying personal values and taking small committed steps that match those values; it is useful for anxiety, low mood and life transitions. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and uses structured exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it helps with worry, sleep problems and mood difficulties.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Ian will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and then suggest ways to proceed. That collaborative process allows the therapist and client to try a method and adjust if it does not fit.

Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat or text messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions suit people with limited bandwidth, live chat can be used for shorter check-ins and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options help clients fit therapy around work, caregiving and everyday life while keeping the focus on practical progress.