Narrative Therapy Directory

A listing of therapists who include Narrative Therapy among their approaches

Ian Smith, BACP

United Kingdom | Online sessions | English  |  Book with Ian »

Experienced counsellor for life changes

Details

NameIan Smith
CredentialsBACP
Based inUnited Kingdom
Registered withBACP
Session formatOnline
LanguagesEnglish
Years in practice10

About Ian

Ian Smith is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who works with people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, depression and a wide range of other concerns. He uses straightforward conversation to help people make sense of what they are going through and decide what they want to change.

Sessions aim to be calm and non‑judgemental so people feel able to say how they really feel. He draws on ten years of experience in social services and mental health settings.

Background and approach

That background means he is used to talking with people from different lives and circumstances. He starts from where each person is and builds on what already helps them. Ian blends Narrative approaches with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and practical tools from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

He also uses Attachment‑based and client‑centred ways of working to focus on relationships and personal strengths. These approaches are used to look at problems differently and try out new ways of coping. In sessions he listens for patterns in stories people tell about themselves.

Then he helps name those patterns and explores small, manageable changes. Work can include attention to mood, sleep, eating, relationship worries, parenting stress, or managing work pressure. Ian supports people with complex or overlapping issues such as grief, trauma, ADHD, long‑term health problems and care responsibilities.

He is also experienced in areas including adoption and foster care, blended families, body image, and kink and alternative sexual cultures. Sessions are offered in English and can take place online or by phone. The focus is practical: understand the problem, try new ways of responding, and build on what already helps.

What this therapist works with

His listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship issues among the things Ian works with, alongside the areas below.

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how he works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.

If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Ian directly how he uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

How Ian’s approaches work online

Ian combines Narrative ideas with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment‑based ways of working. Narrative work helps people look at the stories they tell about themselves and spot different possibilities. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on values and small actions that matter, and is useful for anxiety, low mood and motivation. Attachment‑based work pays attention to how close relationships shape feelings and coping, which can help with intimacy, caregiving stress and relationship patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will talk with the client about goals, preferences and what feels most useful. Together they shape a plan that draws on the approaches above and adapts as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat or text messaging to fit different routines. Video calls allow face‑to‑face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can be a lower‑bandwidth or less formal option, and messaging or live chat are helpful for brief check‑ins or when written reflection suits someone better. These options make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving or mobility needs, while still using Narrative, ACT and attachment‑focused tools in a collaborative way.

Common questions about this listing

What concerns does Ian commonly help with?

He works with stress, anxiety, addiction, depression and related issues such as grief, trauma, self‑esteem and relationship worries.

How would you describe his therapeutic style?

He uses a conversational, client‑centred style that draws on Narrative and CBT ideas to help people reframe problems and try practical changes.

What experience does he bring to sessions?

He has ten years of experience in social services and mental health settings working with people from diverse backgrounds.

What credentials and location are listed?

Ian holds BACP registration and practises from the United Kingdom.

Which languages and international options are available?

Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.

What session formats are offered?

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text‑based messaging to suit different needs.

How are fees and payment handled?

Costs vary by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Ian are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Ian where he has space. Ask about fees, and whether he holds a licence or registration where you live.

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