Rachel Smitheman , BACP

Rachel Smitheman trained as a person-centred counsellor in the United Kingdom and has five years of professional experience. She uses she/her pronouns and aims to make the therapy space respectful and gentle. Rachel works in plain language and offers steady support for people facing stress, anxiety, low mood and life changes.

Her practice focuses on listening first. Sessions begin by hearing what matters to the person in front of her and understanding how problems affect everyday life. Rachel helps people talk through difficulties with relationships, self-esteem and motivation. She also supports those dealing with midlife questions, separation and shifts in life purpose.

Rachel pays attention to how past patterns - like attachment or abandonment worries - shape present choices. She also works with issues such as body image, caregiver stress and coping with chronic illness or pain. Practical concerns like communication problems, control issues or impulsivity are included in her approach.

Therapy with Rachel uses a person-centred style that prioritises the client's experience. Conversations are collaborative and paced to each person's needs. The aim is to build clearer thinking, greater self-understanding and useful ways to cope day to day.

She offers sessions in English and accepts international clients. Clients access video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging depending on what suits them. Getting started involves a short matching questionnaire and arranging sessions around availability.

How person-centred work transfers to online therapy

Rachel uses Client-Centred Therapy, which means the counsellor focuses on listening and understanding each person's experience. This approach helps when people feel stuck by anxiety, low mood or relationship worries because it creates space to be heard and to make sense of feelings.

The person-centred style also puts the client's choices at the centre of the process. Rachel works together with people to set goals and try ways of coping that feel right for them, rather than imposing a fixed plan. This collaborative approach suits life changes, self-esteem work and challenges around attachment or abandonment concerns.

Online therapy here uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video works well for conversations that benefit from visual contact, while phone sessions can fit into a short break or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging are useful for quick check-ins, reflective writing or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options aim to make counselling more flexible and easier to fit around work, caregiving or busy days.