Matt Smith

I offer in-person sessions in Nailsworth (Stroud), as well as online therapy for clients further afield.

I currently have availability for new clients. My main working days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with sessions offered between 9am and 6pm. I can occasionally provide appointments after 6pm, so please let me know if you need something outside my usual hours.

If you’re considering starting therapy or would like to have a brief consultation first, you’re very welcome to get in touch. I aim to respond to all enquiries within two working days.

My approach is grounded in empathy, warmth and a genuine intention to understand you. I aim to walk alongside you as you find your own way forward — in a direction that feels authentic, healing and meaningful to you.

I draw on a blend of approaches that support both insight and emotional connection. This includes helping you make sense of your thoughts, patterns and beliefs, while also gently tuning in to your present-moment experience. I often integrate IFS (Internal Family Systems) and focusing-oriented therapy, which can help you get to know different parts of yourself with clarity and compassion. When it feels helpful, we may also bring awareness to the body or explore questions of meaning and purpose.

The relationship is central to the work. I aim to offer a compassionate and attuned presence, and at times I may share my felt sense or offer gentle challenge to deepen understanding — always with care for your pace and what feels right for you.

My background in social science informs how I see distress within a wider context, including identity, culture, community and the pressures of modern life. I hold space not only for your inner world but also for the external forces that shape it.

Overall, I work collaboratively and flexibly, tailoring the therapy to your needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all method. My intention is to support you in developing greater self-awareness, self-compassion and movement toward a life that feels more grounded and aligned.

I offer a calm, accepting and unhurried space where you can bring whatever feels most present for you. My intention is to create an environment that feels safe enough for you to explore your thoughts, emotions and felt experience without judgement or pressure.

In our sessions, I hold space for difficult feelings and experiences, allowing them to unfold at a pace that feels manageable. I listen closely to your inner world and aim to be alongside you in whatever you’re feeling.

I make room for the different and sometimes competing parts of your experience, including those that may feel confusing or intrusive. When these parts are met with curiosity and understanding, they often reveal meaning and begin to soften. Through this presence and attunement, you may start to understand yourself more deeply and find new ways of relating to what you feel.

The relationship we build is an important part of this process. At times I may offer gentle challenge or share how I’m experiencing you in the room. This is always done with care and with the intention of supporting deeper understanding and connection.

If it feels helpful, we can explore how formative or childhood experiences may be shaping your life today. This is never assumed or required. It is simply one possible area of exploration that some people find meaningful.

However you arrive, whether feeling stuck, overwhelmed, unsettled or wanting to understand yourself better, I aim to meet you where you are. The work is always shaped around your needs, with the hope that therapy becomes a place where what feels difficult can soften, make sense and gradually transform.

I offer a free consultation call by phone or video before the first session. This gives us a chance to talk through practicalities, ask any questions, and see whether we feel like a good fit — without needing to share your full story at this stage.

The first session itself provides a gentle and supportive space for you to introduce your story and explore what feels most present for you. My aim is to be alongside you in whatever you’re feeling, offering presence and empathy, so that from the very start you can feel heard, understood, and supported as we begin the work together.

I currently have availability for new online clients. My main working days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with sessions available between 9am and 6pm. I can sometimes offer appointments slightly later in the day, so please feel free to ask if you need something outside these hours.

If you’re thinking about starting therapy or would like an initial conversation, I offer a free introductory call. I aim to reply to all enquiries within two working days.

My approach is grounded in empathy and focuses on supporting you to understand yourself more deeply and to move towards what feels authentic and meaningful for you. I work relationally, listening closely to your inner experience and staying alongside you in whatever you are feeling.

I draw on a blend of approaches that support both insight and emotional connection. This includes helping you make sense of your thoughts and patterns, while also gently tuning into your present-moment experience. I often integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS) and focusing-oriented therapy, which can help you get to know different parts of yourself with curiosity and compassion. When it feels helpful, we may also bring attention to the body or explore questions of meaning and purpose.

My background in social science informs how I understand distress within a wider context, including the impact of culture, identity, community and the pressures of modern life. I aim to hold space for both your inner world and the external forces that may be shaping it.

Overall, I work collaboratively with you, tailoring the process to your needs and supporting you with care, curiosity and respect.

I offer a calm, accepting and unhurried space where you can bring whatever feels most present for you. My intention is to create an environment that feels safe enough for you to explore your thoughts, emotions and felt experience without judgement or pressure.

In our sessions, I hold space for difficult feelings and experiences, allowing them to unfold at a pace that feels manageable. I make room for the different and sometimes conflicting parts of your experience, including those that may feel confusing or intrusive. When these parts are met with curiosity and understanding, they often reveal meaning and begin to soften.

The relationship we build is an important part of the work. At times I may offer gentle challenge or share how I am experiencing you in the moment, always with care and always with the intention of supporting deeper understanding.

If it feels useful, we can look at how earlier or formative experiences may be shaping your life today. This is never assumed or required; it is simply one possible area of exploration that some people find helpful.

However you arrive — whether feeling stuck, overwhelmed, unsettled or wanting to understand yourself more fully — I aim to meet you where you are. The work is always shaped around your needs, with the hope that therapy becomes a place where things can make more sense and gradually shift.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get a sense of each other and to explore what has brought you to therapy. There is no expectation to share anything before you’re ready. We can simply talk about what feels most important for you right now, or take things more slowly if you are still finding the words for your experience.

I will ask a few gentle questions to understand what you’re hoping for from therapy and what you feel you need. You can also ask me anything about how I work or about the process itself. My aim is to help you feel as comfortable as possible and to give you a clear sense of what working together might be like.

Some people arrive with something specific they want to focus on straight away. Others feel unsure or overwhelmed, or just have a sense that something isn’t quite right. All of these starting points are welcome. The first session is simply a space for us to begin to make contact with what’s happening for you, at your pace.

If we decide to continue, we can then agree a regular session time and talk about what you might need going forward. Above all, the first session is about meeting you as you are and creating a foundation of safety, curiosity and trust.

I offer in-person sessions in Nailsworth, as well as online therapy for clients further afield.

I currently have availability for new clients. My main working days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with sessions offered between 9am and 6pm. I can occasionally provide appointments after 6pm, so please let me know if you need something outside my usual hours.

If you’re considering starting therapy or would like to have a brief consultation first, you’re very welcome to get in touch. I aim to respond to all enquiries within two working days.

My approach is grounded in empathy, warmth and a genuine intention to understand you. I aim to walk alongside you as you find your own way forward — in a direction that feels authentic, healing and meaningful to you.

I draw on a blend of approaches that support both insight and emotional connection. This includes helping you make sense of your thoughts, patterns and beliefs, while also gently tuning in to your present-moment experience. I often integrate IFS (Internal Family Systems) and focusing-oriented therapy, which can help you get to know different parts of yourself with clarity and compassion. When it feels helpful, we may also bring awareness to the body or explore questions of meaning and purpose.

The relationship is central to the work. I aim to offer a compassionate and attuned presence, and at times I may share my felt sense or offer gentle challenge to deepen understanding — always with care for your pace and what feels right for you.

My background in social science informs how I see distress within a wider context, including identity, culture, community and the pressures of modern life. I hold space not only for your inner world but also for the external forces that shape it.

Overall, I work collaboratively and flexibly, tailoring the therapy to your needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all method. My intention is to support you in developing greater self-awareness, self-compassion and movement toward a life that feels more grounded and aligned.

I offer a calm, accepting and unhurried space where you can bring whatever feels most present for you. My intention is to create an environment that feels safe enough for you to explore your thoughts, emotions and felt experience without judgement or pressure.

In our sessions, I hold space for difficult feelings and experiences, allowing them to unfold at a pace that feels manageable. I listen closely to your inner world and aim to be alongside you in whatever you’re feeling.

I make room for the different and sometimes competing parts of your experience, including those that may feel confusing or intrusive. When these parts are met with curiosity and understanding, they often reveal meaning and begin to soften. Through this presence and attunement, you may start to understand yourself more deeply and find new ways of relating to what you feel.

The relationship we build is an important part of this process. At times I may offer gentle challenge or share how I’m experiencing you in the room. This is always done with care and with the intention of supporting deeper understanding and connection.

If it feels helpful, we can explore how formative or childhood experiences may be shaping your life today. This is never assumed or required. It is simply one possible area of exploration that some people find meaningful.

However you arrive, whether feeling stuck, overwhelmed, unsettled or wanting to understand yourself better, I aim to meet you where you are. The work is always shaped around your needs, with the hope that therapy becomes a place where what feels difficult can soften, make sense and gradually transform.

I offer a free consultation call by phone or video before the first session. This gives us a chance to talk through practicalities, ask any questions, and see whether we feel like a good fit — without needing to share your full story at this stage.

The first session itself provides a gentle and supportive space for you to introduce your story and explore what feels most present for you. My aim is to be alongside you in whatever you’re feeling, offering presence and empathy, so that from the very start you can feel heard, understood, and supported as we begin the work together.