- Guilt and shame
- Communication problems
- Social anxiety
About Steve
Steve Smalec is a BACP counsellor in the United Kingdom with 20 years of professional experience. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. He also focuses on communication problems, social anxiety, guilt and shame, and issues around self-love.
He aims to create an environment where people can speak plainly about what they are feeling. Sessions are direct and conversational, with attention to what causes the guilt or shame and how it affects daily life. He listens for patterns in thoughts and behaviour and helps people test small changes outside sessions.
Steve uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address emotional pain and unhelpful thinking. He helps people build practical strategies for managing anxiety and low mood. He also looks at how past events and current relationships keep difficult feelings alive.
Sessions often include talking through specific incidents, practising clearer communication, and trying brief exercises to shift unhelpful responses. The work is collaborative - goals are set together and reviewed over time. He encourages clear steps a person can try between meetings.
Steve accepts clients from the UK and internationally and conducts work in English. Before a first appointment he asks people to outline their main concerns so the first session can focus on the issues that matter most.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Two evidence-based approaches Steve uses are brief cognitive techniques and trauma-focused work. Brief cognitive techniques involve spotting unhelpful thoughts, testing them, and trying small behavioural changes to reduce anxiety or self-critical thinking. This can help with daily worry, social anxiety and feelings of guilt. Trauma-focused work looks at how past harm continues to shape feelings and reactions, and uses measured steps to reduce the intensity of those memories and responses.Finding the right approach is part of the process. He will work collaboratively to decide which techniques fit the person's goals and preferences. Sessions begin by clarifying current problems and short-term aims, then adjust methods if something is not helping.
Confirm the available session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid travel for appointments. It also lets people choose whether to have camera-on conversations or quieter, audio-based meetings depending on what suits them.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
Which concerns does he commonly address?
He works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self-esteem problems and depression, with extra focus on communication, social anxiety, guilt and shame.
What is his approach to guilt and shame?
He talks through the events and feelings that keep guilt or shame active and uses practical exercises to test new ways of thinking and behaving.
How much experience does he bring?
He has 20 years of professional experience working with people facing anxiety, low mood and relationship difficulties.
What credential does he hold and where is he based?
He is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises from the United Kingdom.
Can I work with him if I live outside the UK?
Yes. Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm the current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin the process?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.