Ilona Smith, BACP
Ilona Smith works with people struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief and intimacy-related issues.
About Ilona
Ilona Smith works with people struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief and intimacy-related issues. She explains things plainly and aims to make the first steps easier for someone feeling overwhelmed. Ilona brings 16 years of experience as a practising therapist in the United Kingdom.
She also has a broader 30-year professional background before specialising in therapy work. Her approach is straightforward and respectful. She adapts conversations and plans to fit each person's needs.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on practical steps and clearer thinking as well as exploring feelings. Ilona uses talking therapies that help people notice thought patterns, make small changes and build coping skills. She also draws on approaches that examine meaning and life choices when people feel stuck.
Common concerns she addresses include relationship and intimacy worries, attachment and abandonment fears, communication and commitment problems, and difficulties with control or dissociation. She also supports people working through domestic violence, grief, guilt, shame and feelings of emptiness or isolation. Ilona works with different therapeutic tools to match what suits each person.
Her style is patient and compassionate, with an emphasis on practical change and personal reflection. She welcomes straightforward questions and helps people plan the next steps towards feeling steadier.
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.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
What Ilona works with
Everything Ilona lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Depression
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dissociation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Ilona lists
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Online support
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. It teaches practical ways to change unhelpful thinking and to build new coping skills for anxiety, stress and depression.
Existential Therapy helps people consider life purpose, choices and meaning when they feel stuck or face a midlife crisis. It invites reflection about values and next steps rather than offering quick fixes.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss different methods and decide together what fits best with the person's needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative process helps shape what the sessions will focus on.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Video works well for face-to-face conversation; phone is handy when bandwidth is limited or for brief check-ins. Live chat or messaging can suit people who prefer writing or need a flexible way to fit therapy around work and travel. These options make it easier to arrange regular sessions from different locations and schedules.
Frequently asked
What concerns does this counsellor address?
Ilona helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief and intimacy-related issues. She also focuses on attachment and abandonment concerns, communication and commitment problems, control issues, dissociation and related areas.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is warm, direct and practical. She listens with respect and adapts conversations and plans to match each person's needs and goals.
How much experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience working specifically as a therapist and a wider 30-year professional background prior to specialising in therapy work.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds BACP accreditation and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different preferences.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are arranged through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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