Counsellor profile
Philip Gilson-Smith, NCPS
Counsellor - anxiety and relationships
See online counselling options- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Mindfulness
About Philip
Philip Gilson-Smith is a counsellor and a member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) with five years' experience. He works from the United Kingdom and helps people with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, addiction, loss and relationship difficulties. Philip also supports those coping with self-esteem, parenting and career concerns, and people exploring issues around intimacy and life purpose.
His practice is integrative. He pays attention to patterns that repeat in a person's life and to how those patterns affect choices and relationships. Sessions focus on clear, practical steps as well as understanding deeper emotional material.
Philip uses a mix of client-centred work and cognitive behavioural ideas to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try small changes. He also draws on Jungian ideas and mindfulness practices to explore meaning and to help people become more aware of feelings and reactions.
He offers hypnotherapy as one tool among several, for people who are interested in exploring imagery and guided relaxation to address habits, stress or focused goals. Philip describes therapy as a collaborative process where goals and methods are agreed together.
People who contact him can expect straightforward sessions that aim to identify recurring patterns, set manageable goals and practise new ways of coping. To begin, clients use the site matching steps to choose online counselling options and arrange an initial session.
Therapeutic approaches used in online counselling
Philip often works with client-centred methods that focus on listening and helping people decide what matters to them. This approach supports people who want a pragmatic, person-led conversation about feelings, choices and relationships.He also draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and helps people try small experiments to change unhelpful patterns. Mindfulness practices are used to increase present-moment awareness and calm when stress or anxiety is a problem.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Philip discusses goals, preferences and practical needs with each person and then chooses which methods to try together. The choice of techniques is collaborative and can change as therapy progresses.
Please confirm the specific session formats before booking, as the biography does not list them. Online counselling can help fit sessions into a busy week by reducing travel and making it easier to attend shorter check-ins or longer sessions at convenient times. For some people a phone check-in uses less bandwidth, while a video session can allow more visual contact; Philip will discuss what works best for you.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does he commonly help with?
Philip works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, addiction, depression and related concerns such as self-esteem and grief.
What is his general approach in sessions?
He uses an integrative approach that combines client-centred work, CBT ideas, Jungian perspectives and mindfulness. Sessions aim to spot repeating patterns and try practical steps alongside deeper exploration.
How much experience does he have?
Philip has five years' experience working as a counsellor in the United Kingdom.
Which professional body is he a member of?
He is registered with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and he does accept international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm the current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify exact formats.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.