Registration on file

Rachel Smitheman, BACP

Rachel Smitheman is a person-centred counsellor who qualified in the United Kingdom in 2020 and holds BACP registration.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Self esteem
+25 more

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About Rachel

Rachel Smitheman is a person-centred counsellor who qualified in the United Kingdom in 2020 and holds BACP registration. She has five years of practical experience supporting people with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and life changes. Her approach is calm and down-to-earth.

She uses clear, straightforward language and gentle curiosity to help people talk through difficult emotions. She believes therapy begins with respect and listening. Sessions focus on what matters to the individual and move at their pace.

Background and approach

Rachel aims to offer an empathic space where clients can say what they need to, and where thoughts and feelings can be untangled without hurry. In sessions she works from a person-centred perspective. That means she follows the client’s concerns and priorities rather than imposing a fixed plan.

This style suits issues like relationship strain, communication problems, identity and midlife questions, and decisions around separation. Rachel also supports people facing chronic illness or caregiving stress, struggles with body image or shame, and feelings of isolation. She pays attention to patterns that come from attachment and abandonment experiences and helps clients notice how these affect current choices.

Her work is practical and relational. Conversations can include small experiments, changes to everyday routines, or different ways of talking to yourself and others. Rachel welcomes adults and international clients who prefer sessions in English.

Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed

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Registration

Body	Registration number	Expires
BACP	384544	July 2026

Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.

Check on the BACP register

Sessions and payment

Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.

Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Rachel lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Ways of working Rachel names

Client-Centred Therapy

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor lists and does not check training records.

How client-centred work and online sessions fit together

Rachel uses a person-centred approach that focuses on listening and understanding. The counsellor follows the client’s lead, helping them name what matters and find their own solutions. This approach is useful for anxiety, low mood, self-esteem and relationship questions because it begins with the client’s experience rather than a fixed plan.

Person-centred work often involves reflecting back what a person says and gently checking in on feelings and values. That can help with issues like attachment wounds, abandonment fears and communication problems by making patterns clearer and offering new choices. The therapist and client discuss practical steps together and agree what to try between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Rachel will work collaboratively to decide whether person-centred counselling best fits a client’s needs and goals. She will adjust how sessions run based on what a person prefers and how they respond as therapy progresses.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video lets people see facial cues and body language, while phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging suit brief check-ins, journalling-style reflections or when someone prefers typed conversation. These options offer flexibility so therapy can fit around work, caregiving and travel.

Frequently asked

What concerns does she work with?

She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include relationship and communication problems, body image, chronic illness and caregiver stress.

What is her therapeutic style like?

She practises person-centred counselling which emphasises listening, empathy and following the client’s priorities. Sessions focus on the client’s experience and practical next steps rather than prescriptive techniques.

How much experience does she have?

She qualified in 2020 and has five years of professional experience working with adults and young people. That experience covers mood concerns, relationship issues and life transitions.

Where is she based and what are her credentials?

She is based in the United Kingdom and is listed with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP in her credentials.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English. She also works with international clients who are comfortable using English for therapy.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work and family commitments.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions run via a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. The exact fee will depend on the chosen plan and scheduling.

What do I do to begin therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to the therapist’s availability. The questionnaire helps match you to the right counsellor.