Ian Smith, BACP
Ian Smith offers straightforward support for people facing depression, anxiety, stress and related concerns.
- Stress & Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- +18 more
About Ian
Ian Smith offers straightforward support for people facing depression, anxiety, stress and related concerns. He writes simply and listens closely. Sessions aim to help clients feel heard and to work out practical next steps that fit their life.
Ian has spent ten years in mental health and social services roles. He has seen many different problems, including addiction, relationship strain, grief and trauma. That experience informs how he plans sessions and what he offers people who are struggling.
Background and approach
His approach starts where each person is. He uses gentle, client-centred conversation to identify strengths and small changes that can make a difference. He also draws on cognitive behavioural ideas to help people notice and shift unhelpful thoughts and routines.
Ian can use acceptance and commitment ideas to help people live by their values even while difficult feelings continue. He also works with skills from dialectical behaviour therapy when strong emotions make everyday life harder. Together these methods are used to build practical tools and calmer daily routines.
Sessions are offered in English and Ian works with people across the United Kingdom and internationally. He will discuss format options and what feels manageable, then agree a plan that matches a person's goals and circumstances.
Registration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 386318 | November 2026 |
Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
What Ian works with
Everything Ian lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Depression
- ADHD
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counselling
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Ian lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Online support
Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Ian works collaboratively to find what fits each person's goals and preferences, discussing options in early sessions and adjusting the plan as needed. The aim is to build a sensible, personalised way forward rather than to follow a fixed method.
Online sessions are flexible and built to suit different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction, phone sessions can be used when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging suit short check-ins or people who prefer writing. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments while keeping the focus on practical tools and steady progress.
Frequently asked
What kinds of difficulties does Ian help with?
He supports people with depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, relationship problems and a wide range of other concerns such as grief, trauma, low self-esteem and sleep or eating difficulties.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
Ian uses a client-centred style that focuses on listening and collaboration, combined with practical techniques from cognitive behavioural approaches and skills-based work.
What is his experience in mental health?
He has ten years of experience working in social services and mental health settings with people from diverse backgrounds and with varied presenting issues.
What credentials and location details are on record?
He is listed with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practices from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are used in sessions and can international clients work together?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts clients from outside the UK as well as within the country.
What session formats are available?
Ian offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging so people can choose the format that fits their schedule and needs.
How are fees and payment handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with him?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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