Philip Gilson-Smith, NCPS

Philip Gilson-Smith is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who works with people facing anxiety, stress, depression and relationship concerns. He brings five years of clinical practice and uses an integrative way of working to help clients understand what gets in the way of change. Philip holds an NCPS credential and offers practical, conversational support tailored to the person in front of him.

Philip focuses on spotting recurring patterns and unconscious habits that limit progress. He helps clients name those patterns and try small, manageable changes. Sessions are aimed at building clearer goals and simple tools people can use between meetings.

He works with a broad range of issues including trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, intimacy-related concerns and parenting strains. Philip also supports people dealing with anger, low self-esteem, career questions and life transitions. Jealousy and attachment-related problems are listed among his additional focus areas.

His approach draws on client-centred methods, cognitive behavioural techniques and mindfulness ideas to keep work practical and grounded. He may also use Jungian perspectives and hypnotherapy where these fit the person’s needs. Philip describes therapy as a mutual exploration, with the client’s priorities guiding each step.

People who choose to work with him can expect straightforward conversation, reflective listening and clear next steps after sessions. He encourages clients to set goals and to try out changes between meetings, reporting back on what helped and what did not.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions

Philip commonly uses client-centred work and cognitive behavioural techniques in his practice. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening closely and following what matters most to the person, helping them find their own answers. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and helps people try new ways of responding to problems.

He may also bring mindfulness into sessions to help people notice patterns and manage stress through simple attention and breathing practices. These approaches are practical and can be adapted to online conversations, where exercises, thought records and brief skills practice fit naturally into a session.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options and try things collaboratively, adjusting methods to match the client's goals and preferences rather than using one fixed model.

The practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy week and avoiding travel time. Please confirm which session formats are available before booking, as the profile does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to have shorter check-ins, schedule sessions around work, and continue progress when life gets busy.