Counsellor profile
Richard Schafer, BACP
Counsellor - Stress and relationships
See online counselling options- Psychodynamic principles
- Person-Centred work
- Individual and couple
About Richard
Counsellor Richard Schafer is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) with 21 years' experience. He works in the United Kingdom and helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship concerns, self-esteem and coping with life changes. Richard also addresses issues such as abandonment, attachment difficulties, communication problems and isolation.
Richard trained in psychodynamic counselling and began private practice in 2004. He combines psychodynamic ideas with Person-Centred principles and draws on a wider integrative approach. That means he uses different ways of working depending on what each person needs at the time.
In earlier roles he spent over a decade as a clinical lead in statutory therapeutic residential settings. Those roles shaped his practical approach to common problems such as substance misuse, impulsivity and family-related difficulties. He offers both individual and couple counselling, and works from an integrative standpoint rather than a single method.
Sessions aim to help people talk through difficult feelings, understand repeated patterns and develop coping strategies for day-to-day life. Richard frames the work around what a person brings to sessions, and adjusts approaches as those needs change.
He practises in Clapham SW4 in the United Kingdom and has maintained long-term BACP registration. Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients. Before booking, check current session options and formats with him directly.
Therapeutic approaches and remote counselling
Richard works from psychodynamic and Person-Centred approaches. Psychodynamic work looks at patterns from past relationships and repeated ways of reacting. It can help when someone keeps getting stuck in the same difficulties or wants to understand deeper feelings. Person-Centred work focuses on the person's here-and-now experience, offering a supportive, non-directive way to talk through current problems and decide on next steps.Choosing an approach is part of the work. Richard treats this as a collaborative process. He will discuss what feels most helpful, try methods for a while, and adjust the approach if it does not fit the person's needs or goals.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats. Please confirm the current session options with him before booking. In general, remote counselling can make sessions easier to fit into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow short check-ins when needed. Some formats use less bandwidth or no camera, which can make a session simpler to join during a lunch break or between commitments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
21+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he commonly help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, low self-esteem and coping with life changes. He also addresses abandonment, attachment and family-related problems.
How would you describe his way of working?
He uses an integrative model combining psychodynamic and Person-Centred ideas. He adapts methods to fit what someone needs at different stages of therapy.
How long has he practised?
He has 21 years of experience and began private practice in 2004.
Which professional body is he a member of?
He is a long-term registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.
What languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English. He also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options with him before booking.
How are costs and payments handled?
Cost varies with location. Sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.