Ian Smith, BACP

Ian Smith is a licensed counselling therapist based in the United Kingdom who brings ten years of experience working across social services and mental health settings. He holds BACP membership - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which denotes professional affiliation with a national body for counsellors and psychotherapists. Ian has worked with a wide range of people, including individuals, children, and families, supporting concerns such as stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, and other mental health challenges.

He aims to create an open, non-judgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be explored honestly. Beginning from where each person is in their life and treatment is central to his approach, and he prioritizes collaboration to identify practical and meaningful goals. Ian focuses on building strengths and using what is already working in a client’s life as a foundation for change, while addressing the areas the client feels are most important.

Ian adapts his work to the needs and comfort of each person, offering supportive guidance and practical strategies. He looks forward to working with new clients and helping them navigate the challenges they bring to therapy.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Ian uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify their values, practice acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings, and take committed steps toward a life they find meaningful. ACT can be useful for anxiety, stress, and problems that involve avoidance of uncomfortable emotions.

Attachment-Based Therapy is another approach Ian draws on to explore patterns of relating and emotional bonds formed in close relationships. This work can help with relationship difficulties, intimacy concerns, and issues rooted in early attachments.

Ian treats selection of an approach as collaborative; he will work with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and may combine elements from different approaches to tailor the work. That process is gradual and shaped by the client’s responses and priorities.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place via video calls, phone conversations, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit therapy into busy lives or across locations. For many people, remote sessions provide consistent access to licensed professionals and therapists while preserving the same focus on growth and coping strategies as face-to-face work.