Paul Smith
Calm, practical person-centred support
About Paul
Paul Smith offers calm, straightforward support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief or relationship strain. He helps individuals who are unsure where to start, guiding conversations to uncover what matters and what might need to change. Paul uses simple, direct language and aims to make sessions feel approachable and manageable.
He practises client-centred therapy, which means the focus stays on the person in front of him. Sessions are built around listening, reflection and helping people make sense of their feelings.
Background and approach
This approach is useful for depression, anxiety, coping with life changes and many relationship concerns. Paul has practised since 2011, giving him 15 years of experience working with a wide range of issues. He has helped people with addictions, trauma and abuse, intimacy worries, anger and low self-esteem.
He also supports those dealing with family problems, divorce and fatherhood issues. His additional focus areas include abandonment, attachment difficulties, autism and Asperger Syndrome, codependency and communication problems. He also works with people facing control or dependent personality concerns, antisocial personality questions, and forgiveness or emptiness issues.
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts clients in the United Kingdom and internationally. Paul describes himself as warm, friendly and non-judgemental, aiming to see the person rather than the problem. Prospective clients begin by completing a short matching questionnaire and then scheduling sessions according to availability.
Paul’s registration is with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, which he lists among his credentials.
What Paul works with
How Paul works
Listed by Paul among the ways they work.
Sessions & fees
How client-centred care works online
Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and responding to what the client brings to the session. The counsellor offers warmth, acceptance and careful reflection so the client can make sense of feelings and decide on changes. This kind of work suits people coping with anxiety, depression, relationship strain and life transitions.Paul’s practice uses that same person-focused approach in online sessions, keeping the emphasis on the client's priorities. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify goals, try different ways of talking about problems and adjust the style to what helps most. Finding the right approach is part of the work together rather than a fixed plan set in advance.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls are useful when visual cues help the conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when internet bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit people who prefer writing, need quick updates or want flexible, brief exchanges between sessions.
These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare or travel and allow people in different regions to access registered or accredited professionals. The therapist will discuss which format best matches a client's needs, goals and day-to-day routine.
| Session length | Typically 50 minutes |
|---|---|
| Client ages | Adults, 18 and over |
| Fees | Subscription via BetterHelp, cancel anytime |
| Insurance | Not billed directly |
Questions people ask
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Areas of focus
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Career difficulties
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 15 years
- Registered with
- BACP
- Languages
- English
