Ian Smith, BACP

Ian Smith offers calm, straightforward support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety or life changes. He helps with problems such as addiction, depression, relationship strain and grief. People come for practical help with sleep, eating, parenting concerns, ADHD and issues around intimacy and self-esteem. Ian uses clear conversation to work through what matters most to each person.

He draws on ten years of experience in social services and mental health settings in the United Kingdom. That background means he has worked with people from many backgrounds and with a wide range of concerns. Ian aims to meet clients where they are and build on what is already helping them.

Sessions focus on collaborative goal-setting and simple, usable strategies. He combines approaches that look at thoughts, behaviours and personal values to make day-to-day life more manageable. The aim is to find steps that fit into a client’s routine, not to overwhelm them with theory.

Ian is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. He uses therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and attachment-based work as tools to help people clarify goals and cope better.

People can expect a warm, non-judgemental space to talk and practical ideas to try between sessions. Ian supports clients through transitions such as career change, caregiving strain, chronic health challenges and recovery from trauma. He works with individuals to make steady, realistic progress.

How Ian’s approaches work for online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps in that direction. It focuses on values and on acting even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present, which can help with anxiety, depression and coping with change.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact. It offers straightforward exercises and practical strategies to reduce symptoms of anxiety, low mood and sleep problems, and to change unhelpful habits.

Attachment-based work explores patterns in close relationships and how early experiences shape current reactions. This can be useful for people struggling with intimacy, abandonment concerns or attachment issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Ian will talk with clients about their goals and preferences and then tailor methods together. The therapist treats this as a collaborative process and adapts over time if something is not helping.

For practicalities, confirm current session options before booking as formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and offer quicker check-ins when needed. Many people find remote sessions helpful for maintaining continuity during life changes and managing longer-term issues.