Diane Smith, BACP

Diane Smith helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. She introduces simple, practical steps so clients can start to feel steadier and more in control. Diane speaks plainly and keeps sessions focused on what matters day to day.

She sees therapy as a collaborative process where the client is the expert on their life. Sessions draw on approaches that suit each person’s needs, using straightforward exercises and talk to shift unhelpful patterns. Diane emphasises small, achievable changes rather than quick fixes.

Over three years she has supported people with a wide range of concerns. These include attachment issues, body image and eating concerns, chronic pain and long-term illness, addiction, and problems with communication or control. She also works with people dealing with dissociation, bereavement through separation, domestic violence and fatherhood issues.

Diane combines cognitive tools with deeper, reflective work. That mix can help people understand painful patterns and build new ways of relating to themselves and others. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centred ways of working to reduce struggle and increase clarity.

Sessions are offered in English and are tailored to what each person needs in the moment. Diane aims to create a steady, respectful space where people can try things out, learn from them, and build more confidence over time.

Approaches you can use online and how they help

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, teaches simple skills to notice thoughts and choose actions that fit personal values. It can help when anxiety, low mood or avoidance get in the way of living a meaningful life. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking and trying small behavioural experiments to reduce symptoms. It is useful for anxiety, depression and many day-to-day struggles.

Finding the right approach is something to do together. The therapist will talk about different methods and listen to what feels most useful. Over a few sessions the approach can be adjusted so it matches the client’s goals and preferences in practical ways.

Online work makes therapy more flexible. Video calls let people use visual cues and meet face to face without travel. Phone sessions are a good option when fewer technical demands are needed. Live chat and text-based messaging suit shorter check-ins, people who prefer writing, or those who need to fit sessions into a busy schedule. Registered or accredited professionals can deliver the same core work online as in-person, with the benefit of easier scheduling and access from different locations.