Counsellor profile
Rachel Smitheman, BACP
Counsellor - Stress and anxiety
See online counselling options- Person-centred approach
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem work
About Rachel
Rachel Smitheman is a counsellor and a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She qualified in the UK in 2020 and has five years of experience supporting people with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem and depression.
She uses a person-centred approach, which means she focuses on listening and understanding each person’s perspective. In sessions she aims to be straightforward and respectful. Her pronouns are she/her and she has worked with both adults and young people on motivation and confidence concerns.
Rachel pays attention to how past experiences can affect current feelings. She talks with clients about attachment and abandonment where relevant. She also works with practical life problems such as communication difficulties, caregiver stress, and coping with chronic illness or pain.
Other areas she addresses include body image, guilt and shame, control issues, impulsivity, isolation and midlife questions. She will also discuss relationship endings, forgiveness and finding purpose when life changes feel difficult. Sessions are driven by what the client wants to address.
Her style is patient and direct. Rachel aims to help people identify small, workable changes and to practise new ways of coping between sessions. She accepts international clients and offers sessions that use a subscription model which can be cancelled at any time.
To begin, people follow the site process to match with her and book a first session. This usually starts with a short questionnaire and a scheduled session to set goals and decide how to proceed.
How person-centred work translates to online counselling
Person-centred therapy focuses on listening and meeting each person where they are. The counsellor offers attentive, non-judgemental listening and reflects back what she hears to help clarify feelings and choices. This approach can suit people dealing with anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties and questions about identity or life direction.Person-centred work pays attention to the relationship between counsellor and client. In practice this means decisions about pace, focus and homework are made together. Rachel will discuss what methods feel most helpful and adapt the sessions to the client’s aims and preferences.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm which options are available before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, remove travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They can also allow people outside the UK to arrange work with a registered professional, subject to any local considerations and the counsellor’s stated session options.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly help with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem and depression, plus related topics such as body image, guilt and midlife questions.
What is her therapeutic style?
She works in a person-centred way, focusing on listening and understanding each person’s experience. Sessions are led by the client’s priorities.
How long has she been practising?
She qualified in the UK in 2020 and has five years of professional experience.
Which professional body is she a member of?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. She also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm the current session options before booking.
How are sessions paid for?
Sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time. Costs vary with location.
How do I start a first session?
Use the See online counselling options button, complete the short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session to set goals and next steps.
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.