Counsellor profile
Vanessa Richards, BACP
Counsellor - stress and trauma support
See online counselling options- Client-Centred Therapy
- CBT and DBT strategies
- Grief and cancer support
About Vanessa
Counsellor and BACP member Vanessa Richards has five years' experience working with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. She also lists support for addictions, family and parenting concerns, grief, eating issues, anger, career matters, bipolar, ADHD and coping with life changes. Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients while practising in the United Kingdom.
Vanessa describes a relational way of working. She aims to build a working relationship and helps people talk through what matters to them. Her background includes clinical roles with people affected by cancer and work supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Those roles inform her understanding of loss, illness and trauma.
She draws on a number of counselling approaches. Client-Centred Therapy underpins her focus on the person's experience. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy add practical strategies for mood, anxiety and coping. Emotionally-Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing appear in her toolkit for relationship issues and making change.
Vanessa trained to a Masters level in integrative counselling and psychotherapy and uses that training to blend methods as needed. She has also worked in the NHS and the private sector and has clinical experience from therapeutic radiography and supporting survivors of abuse. These settings have shaped how she works with grief, illness and trauma.
People who contact her usually start by describing what feels most urgent. In sessions she focuses on clear, practical steps alongside space to talk. Prospective clients are asked to confirm current session formats before booking.
How Vanessa uses therapeutic approaches online
Vanessa uses Client-Centred Therapy to focus on the person's experience and what matters most to them. This approach is about listening and responding to the client's concerns, which can help when exploring feelings around loss, anxiety or low self-esteem.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is used for practical skill-building. It looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and is often helpful for anxiety, low mood and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) contributes techniques for managing strong emotions and improving stress tolerance.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and agree which methods to try. That collaborative process means techniques can change as needs shift.
The biography does not list which exact session formats are offered. Before booking, confirm the available formats and how they fit into everyday life. Online sessions can reduce travel, fit around work or childcare and make shorter check-ins easier. Registered or accredited professionals can use remote conversations alongside face-to-face options, and the choice is made to suit the client's schedule and practical needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. Additional areas listed include addiction, grief, parenting and coping with life changes.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She works in a relational, person-focused way and combines talking with practical strategies. The aim is to build a working relationship and agree steps to address the issues raised.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years' experience as a counsellor. Her background also includes work supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence and clinical experience with people affected by cancer.
Which professional body is she a member of?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, listed as BACP.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Fees vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Use 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.