Philip Smyth, BACP

Philip Smyth trained as a counsellor after a previous career in business. He moved into therapy after personal experience of how talking with someone can help. He now brings four years of practice to sessions and holds BACP accreditation, which he uses to guide his professional work in the United Kingdom.

Philip offers a calm, straightforward style. He listens first and helps people name what matters most to them. Conversations are practical and rooted in everyday life, with a focus on small, manageable steps rather than jargon. He aims to help people find their own strengths and clearer ways forward.

In background and approach Philip uses several methods to match each person’s needs. He draws on Client-Centred Therapy to prioritise the relationship and create a respectful space. He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thinking and patterns, and psychodynamic ideas to look at longer-term patterns that may affect current feelings.

Philip has experience with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, grief, addictions, self-esteem and intimacy-related issues. He also focuses on areas such as attachment, communication problems, caregiver stress, commitment worries and body image.

Sessions are conducted in English and Philip accepts international clients. He notes that therapy is a collaborative process and encourages people to take the time they need to find the right fit. If you are ready to begin, he invites you to make the first move and explore what might help.

How Philip uses therapy approaches online

Client-Centred Therapy emphasizes a respectful, listening relationship where the client sets the pace and goals; it helps when someone needs an empathic space to talk and feel heard. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, which is useful for anxiety, low mood and stress. The Gottman Method and Imago Relationship Therapy offer practical tools for couples who want to improve communication and rebuild trust, with hands-on exercises and clearer ways of relating.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Philip treats this as a collaborative process and will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most helpful. Together, client and counsellor can try different techniques and decide which suit day-to-day life and the changes the client wants to make.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session formats currently offered before booking. Online work can make sessions easier to fit into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It can also make involving a partner in relationship work simpler when both people are in different places. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt exercises and homework to work well in virtual sessions, and Philip uses his clinical approaches to shape how online meetings are run.