Mark Smith, BACP

Mark Smith is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship and intimacy concerns, and grief. He also helps with self-esteem, coping with life changes and coaching for practical next steps. Mark uses a calm, straightforward style and works online or by phone to make sessions easier to fit into busy lives.

He draws on a mix of approaches so sessions are tailored to each person. Sometimes he uses client-centred listening to follow what matters most to the client. Other times he brings in cognitive behavioural tools to help change unhelpful thinking and behaviour. Trauma-focused and psychodynamic ideas are used where past hurt or repeated patterns are getting in the way.

Mark aims to offer a non-judgemental space and a practical focus. He can work in a more solution-focused way or take a slower, open-ended pace depending on what the person needs. Conversations are intended to be clear and grounded, not full of jargon.

He has 12 years of experience and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. That membership is shown here as BACP.

Sessions are available via video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. People who live outside the United Kingdom are not accepted for work with Mark.

How Mark’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and following what matters to the person. It helps people feel heard and find their own solutions rather than being told what to do. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions connect and uses practical exercises to change patterns that cause distress. This approach is useful for anxiety, mood issues and stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Mark will discuss goals and preferences and then try methods that fit the person. He works together with clients to adjust the approach over time, combining listening with practical tools when needed.

Online sessions can be arranged as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls let the therapist and client see each other's expressions, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier to fit around work. Live chat and text messaging allow shorter check-ins or ongoing written conversation between sessions. These options make it easier to attend sessions from different locations and at varied times, while keeping the focus on progress and what works for the individual.