Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Entry 152628United Kingdom

Deborah Smith

Deborah Smith, BACP

United Kingdom 11 years in practice

Continue with Deborah

BACP counsellor - addictions and trauma

Sheet 1

  • Addictions help
  • Trauma-focused work
  • Mindfulness practice

About Deborah

Deborah Smith is a BACP counsellor practising in the United Kingdom with 11 years of experience. She focuses on addictions, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, anxiety and depression. Sessions are conducted in English.

Deborah works from the view that the person is the expert on their own life. She looks for the strengths clients already have and uses those to tackle current problems. Conversations are practical and paced to what each person can manage.

Her approach draws on attachment-based ideas and client-centred methods. That means attention to how past relationships shape current patterns, and a straightforward, person-led way of working. Mindfulness techniques are used to help reduce stress and ground attention in the present.

For people with trauma, she uses trauma-focused methods to address painful memories and their effects. Sessions aim to identify triggers, reduce distressing responses, and help people make different choices day to day. Work on addictions and compulsive behaviours includes understanding underlying needs and patterns.

Deborah also supports people with issues such as body image, codependency, parental and fatherhood concerns, grief, and problems linked to military service. She does not accept international clients. To begin, clients follow the site process to complete a short questionnaire and arrange a first session.

Sheet 2

How her approaches inform online work

Deborah draws on attachment-based therapy to look at how early and ongoing relationships affect current patterns. This approach helps when conflict, trust or closeness are causing repeated problems. Client-centred work means sessions are led by the person’s concerns and pace, with the counsellor offering reflective listening and gentle direction.

Mindfulness practice is used to help reduce stress and manage strong emotions. Simple exercises teach noticing thoughts and bodily sensations so reactions feel less overwhelming. For people affected by trauma, trauma-focused methods aim to reduce the hold of distressing memories and to build practical coping strategies.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Deborah will discuss goals, preferences and what feels workable, and then agree a plan together. That collaborative selection helps shape session focus and the types of exercises used between meetings.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Practical benefits of online work include fitting sessions into a busy week, avoiding travel time, and choosing quieter surroundings that suit you. Some formats also suit shorter check-ins or sessions without a camera, which can make it easier to balance therapy with daily life.

Sheet 3

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTFamily conflictsGriefEating disorders

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesBody imageCodependencyControl issuesDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFatherhood issuesGuilt and shameVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyMindfulness TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

11+ years

Listed in

United Kingdom

Languages

English

Sheet 4

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?

She works with addictions, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, anxiety, depression and eating concerns, among other issues.

What style of therapy does she use?

Deborah uses attachment-based, client-centred and mindfulness approaches, and applies trauma-focused methods when appropriate.

How much experience does she have?

She has 11 years of professional experience working with people on a range of emotional and behavioural issues.

What are her credentials and location?

She is registered with the BACP and practices in the United Kingdom.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the UK work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are sessions paid for?

Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin a first session?

Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site process.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.

Deborah Smith

Continue with Deborah