About Rachel
Rachel Smitheman trained as a person-centred counsellor in the United Kingdom and has five years of professional experience. She uses the pronouns she/her and focuses on helping people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, motivation and issues affecting relationships. Rachel aims to offer a warm and respectful space.
She keeps things straightforward and listens closely to what matters to each person. Sessions are collaborative - she helps people name their concerns and find practical next steps that fit their life.
How Rachel works
Her work often covers stress, coping with life changes and mood disorders. She also supports people dealing with attachment and abandonment concerns, body image, caregiver strain, chronic illness and pain, and isolation or loneliness. Communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, and struggles with guilt or forgiveness are included in her practice.
Rachel follows a client-centred approach, which means the conversation is led by the person seeking help. She focuses on understanding the person’s experience and building on their strengths rather than imposing a fixed plan. This way of working suits people who want to be heard and helped to make their own changes.
People who choose Rachel can expect a calm, empathic presence and straightforward guidance. She works with practical concerns such as impulsivity, life purpose and midlife questions, and helps people explore options at a manageable pace.
Rachel lists one way of working on the entry:
What Rachel works with
The areas below are the ones Rachel selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | BACP |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 5 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How client-centred practice works online
Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening, empathy and supporting a person to find their own answers. In practice the counsellor follows the person’s lead, reflects what they say and helps them notice strengths and choices. This approach is suited to worries like anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, relationship stress and life changes.Working out the right approach is part of the process. Rachel will discuss what feels most useful and adapt the way she works to meet an individual’s needs, goals and preferences. This is a collaborative conversation so the person can try different ways of working and agree what helps most.
Online sessions can be held by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, giving more flexibility than in-person appointments. Video calls are useful for deeper conversations and non-verbal cues. Phone sessions suit people with limited bandwidth or who prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging can be shorter check-ins or a way to fit therapy around work and family commitments. Many people find remote sessions make regular therapy easier to keep up with.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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