Registration on file

Ilona Smith, BACP

Ilona Smith is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues and depression.

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About Ilona

Ilona Smith is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues and depression. She speaks plainly and focuses on what matters now, helping people take small practical steps toward feeling steadier. Ilona works from a respectful, compassionate stance and adapts to each person’s needs.

Ilona has 16 years of experience working as a therapist and holds BACP registration. She pairs gentle listening with clear structure so conversations lead to useful change rather than getting stuck.

Background and approach

Sessions centre on what the client wants to reach and how to get there in realistic steps. Her approach draws on trauma-focused work when earlier hurts continue to affect day-to-day life. She also uses client-centred methods that prioritise the person’s own goals and values.

Cognitive behavioural techniques are used to spot patterns of thinking and testing practical alternatives. People come for a wide range of concerns from relationship and intimacy struggles to feelings of emptiness, guilt or detachment. Ilona also supports those facing loss, family problems, control issues, dissociation or challenges tied to attachment and abandonment worries.

Sessions try to balance support and action. Conversations may include grounding and mindfulness practices, reviewing how thoughts influence mood, and planning small experiments to change behaviour. Ilona encourages steady progress and helps people notice the difference each week.

Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed

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Registration

Body	Registration number	Expires
BACP	391781	June 2026

Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.

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Sessions and payment

Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.

Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Ilona lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Ways of working Ilona names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor lists and does not check training records.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Trauma-Focused Therapy looks at how past painful events continue to affect feelings and behaviour today. In online work this means creating moments to notice triggers, practise grounding and find safer ways to respond. Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s priorities first and relies on honest listening and empathy to help people clarify what matters and make choices that feel right.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviours. Online CBT often uses brief exercises between sessions, clear goals and simple experiments to change routines and reduce distress.

Choosing the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each client about goals, preferences and what has helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and review progress as therapy continues.

Online formats offer practical flexibility. Video calls let conversations feel like an in-person session, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when screen time is hard, live chat supports shorter check-ins and text messaging allows ongoing reflection between meetings. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life and keep momentum going.

Frequently asked

What concerns does Ilona help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues and depression, plus related concerns such as attachment, abandonment and communication problems.

How would she describe her therapeutic style?

Her style blends warm, client-centred listening with practical techniques. Conversations aim to be direct but kind, and to lead to clear next steps.

What experience does she bring?

Ilona has 16 years of experience working as a therapist and many years of wider professional work prior to that.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.

Which languages are supported and can international clients join?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

What formats are available for sessions?

Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.

How is cost handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.