About Philip
Philip Gilson-Smith is a counsellor who uses a somatic-informed approach alongside talking therapies to help people feel more settled in their bodies and minds. He works with everyday problems such as anxiety, stress and low mood, and with relationship and intimacy-related issues. Philip holds NCPS accreditation and practises from the United Kingdom.
Philip focuses on uncovering patterns that hold people back. He pays attention to how feelings show up in the body as well as in thoughts and behaviour.
Background and approach
Sessions aim to build small, practical steps people can try between meetings to notice change and gain confidence. His background blends Client-Centred ideas with tools from cognitive approaches, Jungian reflection and hypnotherapy. That mix is used to help with things like addiction, grief, anger and issues around control or attachment.
He offers straightforward conversations and gentle guidance rather than jargon or complicated protocols. Philip has five years of practice experience and supports people facing life changes, career questions and parenting strains alongside clinical concerns such as trauma and substance difficulties. He also explores themes like abandonment, codependency and life purpose when these surface in sessions.
People meet him online or by phone, using video, live chat or text options when preferred. To begin, a short matching questionnaire and scheduling step puts people in touch so they can discuss goals and next steps.
Approaches that translate to online therapy
Philip integrates somatic-informed work with Client-Centred and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) elements when working online. Somatic-informed approaches invite attention to bodily sensations and simple grounding techniques that can reduce anxiety and help with trauma-related tension. Client-Centred work gives space for people to feel heard and understood, focusing on what matters most to the individual. CBT provides straightforward tools to spot and change unhelpful thought patterns and build practical coping strategies for stress, low mood or relationship difficulties.Choosing the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Philip will discuss goals, preferences and what feels helpful, and then adapt sessions so the methods fit the person rather than the other way around. This means pacing, exercises and discussion are shaped around individual needs and comfort.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility for people with busy lives or limited local options. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, while phone sessions suit those who prefer voice-only contact. Live chat and text-based messaging give a lower-intensity option for check-ins or brief coaching work. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity and try techniques between sessions, while fitting therapy into everyday routines.
Frequently asked questions
What problems can be worked on in sessions?
What is his therapeutic style like?
How much experience does he have?
What credentials and location are listed?
Which languages and international arrangements are supported?
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How are fees and subscriptions handled?
What is the first step to begin therapy?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family conflicts
- Fatherhood issues
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Intimacy-related issues
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Narcissism
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 5 years
- Licensed
- Languages
- English