Vanessa Richards , BACP

Vanessa Richards is a counsellor who supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression and relationship problems. She also helps those coping with trauma and abuse, issues around self-esteem, grief, addiction, eating concerns and the challenges of parenting. Vanessa works with people navigating major life changes and those managing ADHD, bipolar symptoms, career strain and compassion fatigue.

Vanessa uses a relational, down-to-earth style. Sessions focus on building trust and talking through what matters most. She aims to make conversations straightforward and practical, so people can find small, useful steps to feel steadier.

Her background includes five years of clinical experience in the UK and registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. Before moving into counselling she worked in healthcare and has direct experience supporting people affected by cancer and long-term illness.

Vanessa draws on a mix of approaches, including client-centred listening, cognitive behavioural techniques and emotion-focused work. She adapts these methods to fit each person's situation and goals rather than using a single template.

People who choose Vanessa often want a calm, collaborative atmosphere. She encourages clear communication and practical coping skills. The aim is to help people feel more able to manage difficult emotions and make decisions that suit their lives.

How Vanessa’s approaches translate to online therapy

Vanessa commonly draws on client-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in her online work. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening closely and building a trusting relationship so people can speak openly about their concerns. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and test small behaviour changes to reduce anxiety or low mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Vanessa explores what feels most helpful for each person and adjusts methods as goals and needs change. This is a collaborative process where the client helps shape the plan alongside the therapist.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls are useful for face-to-face conversation and non-verbal cues. Phone sessions can be easier when internet bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging suit short check-ins, ongoing support between sessions or people who prefer writing to speaking. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into daily life.