A different way to make sense of things.
When life feels difficult, it helps to have somewhere you can speak openly, feel understood and begin discovering what might change. I’m Gary Smith. My approach to psychotherapy is warm, considered and solution focused.
A conversation without pressure · In person in Swindon · Online across the UK
Gary Smith Psychotherapy Best Mind Therapy
Professional, personal, considered.
Perhaps you’ve been managing more than people realise.
You might look as though you are coping. You go to work, meet responsibilities, look after other people and keep things moving. Yet underneath, there may be worry, exhaustion, self-doubt, a difficult relationship or a sense that something keeps repeating.
Sometimes you know exactly what has brought you here. Sometimes you simply know that life has become harder than it needs to be. Both are valid places to start.
Psychotherapy gives us a structured, confidential setting in which to explore what you are experiencing and what you would prefer life to look like. It combines attentive listening with collaborative questions and practical work, rather than leaving you alone to work everything out.
“You don’t need to arrive with the right words, a diagnosis or a perfectly formed goal. We can work out what matters together.”
Gary Smith · Psychotherapist & Clinical Hypnotherapist
We can acknowledge what has happened without making the entire conversation about the past. Sometimes understanding an old pattern is useful; sometimes exploring the next small difference is where progress begins.
We can make room for the problem without letting it become the whole story.
There is a place for understanding why things feel the way they do. But there is also value in noticing when life is a little better, where your strengths show up and what you might like to do differently.
In our work together, we make room for both: what needs to be heard and what might help you move forward.
Three influences. One personal approach.
I draw on several ways of working, but the starting point is always you—not a set formula or a predetermined number of sessions.
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Finding direction without dismissing difficulty. SFBT helps us explore what you want to be different, what you already bring to the situation and where exceptions to the problem may exist. We can build from useful experiences, even very small ones.
Questions might explore what a slightly better week would look like, when a problem has been less intense, or what someone close to you might notice changing. The aim is not forced positivity; it is to recognise and develop realistic possibilities.
NLP-informed techniques
Exploring the language and patterns that shape experience. Where appropriate, I may use exercises drawn from Neuro-Linguistic Programming, such as reframing, perspective-taking, mental rehearsal or anchoring a more helpful response.
These are optional practical tools, not a promise to “rewire” the brain or produce rapid, permanent results. The scientific evidence for NLP as a treatment for mental health conditions is limited; we will consider whether an exercise feels useful for your goals.
CBT-informed elements
Understanding the links between thoughts, emotions and actions. CBT-informed questions may help us notice unhelpful predictions, avoidance patterns and the effect they have on daily life. The emphasis is on developing a more balanced perspective and choosing practical next steps.
This does not mean I am offering a full specialist CBT programme. Where a condition calls for a specific evidence-based treatment, such as CBT with exposure and response prevention for OCD, we can discuss those options and appropriate referral.
Where clinically appropriate, hypnosis can also be discussed as a separate or complementary element of my wider work. It is never assumed to be necessary for psychotherapy.
Whatever has brought you here, we can begin with your experience.
You might be looking for help with one identifiable difficulty or with several pressures that have gradually become connected. Some concerns may need specialist healthcare or a particular form of therapy; we can be open about that from the start.
Linked pages explain the relevant support in more detail. A discussion of a concern does not mean any single approach is appropriate for everyone.
A process you can understand—and have a say in.
Therapy should never feel like something being done to you. We decide together what seems useful, review how things are going and make changes if needed.
If you have tried therapy before, or you are unsure whether talking will help, there is room to discuss that too. The first consultation is an opportunity to assess whether this approach feels right for you.
Session fees & practical detailsFirst, a conversation.
We discuss what is bringing you to therapy, what you hope may change and whether my approach seems appropriate. There is no obligation to book.
We agree a useful focus.
That might involve reducing overwhelming patterns, thinking differently about a situation, setting boundaries or approaching something you have avoided.
Notice what is different.
We may agree manageable observations or exercises. This is not about homework for its own sake; it is about bringing helpful changes into real life.
Review and adjust.
There is no predetermined number of sessions. We check whether the work is helping, consider alternatives if appropriate and decide together what comes next.
PSYCHOTHERAPY
It's Gary. The person behind the practice.
I'm Gary Smith, a Swindon-based psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist. I work with people who want an approachable, practical and thoughtful conversation—one that respects both the difficulties they face and the possibility of doing things differently.
Alongside client work, I'm a senior lecturer with Inspiraology Hypnotherapy Training and provide clinical supervision. I value professional development, clear boundaries and knowing when another approach or specialist service may be more suitable.
What matters to me is that you feel involved in the process. You should be able to ask questions, understand why we're doing something and feel comfortable saying when an approach is not right for you.
DSFH · HPD · AfSFH (Reg.) · MNCH (Reg.) · CNHC (Reg.)
Clear details, from the beginning.
Some reassurance comes from knowing what to expect before you make contact.
Appointments that work around life.
In-person psychotherapy sessions are available in Swindon, Wiltshire. I also offer online appointments to people throughout the UK where appropriate, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Sessions generally last 50–55 minutes. Appointments are offered Monday to Friday, 9.00 am–8.30 pm, subject to availability.
Fees, privacy and suitability.
Your initial consultation is free. Up-to-date session prices and terms are listed on the Fees page, rather than quoted here where they could become out of date.
Sessions are treated confidentially within professional, legal and safeguarding limits. Those limits can be explained before you begin. This is not an emergency or crisis service.
Things you may want to know.
There is no expectation that you should know the language of psychotherapy before reaching out.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and counselling?
Do I need to know what is wrong before contacting you?
Does Solution Focused Therapy mean we will ignore the past?
Will you use NLP in every session?
Do you offer CBT?
Is hypnosis part of psychotherapy?
How many sessions would I need?
Can I have psychotherapy online anywhere in the UK?
What does the free consultation involve?
What if I need more specialist mental health support?
You don't have to work everything out before getting in touch.
Whether there is something specific you want to change or you simply need a thoughtful place to begin, I would be pleased to hear from you. We can explore what matters, what is appropriate and what a useful next step might look like.
Swindon appointments · UK-wide online · A free, no-obligation initial consultation