Vanessa Richards, BACP

Vanessa Richards is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people managing stress, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties. She supports those coping with trauma and abuse, grief, addiction, parenting strain, and challenges such as ADHD and low self-esteem. Vanessa aims to make the first step feel straightforward and practical for someone worried about seeking help.

She brings five years of counselling experience and holds BACP accreditation, which is noted as a professional credential. Her background also includes years working in health settings, which informs her approach to working with illness, cancer journeys, and caregiving stress. Vanessa focuses on everyday thinking patterns and habits that shape how people respond to pressure.

In session she uses a collaborative, relational style. Conversations look at thoughts, coping habits and the small changes that make daily life easier. Techniques come from approaches such as cognitive behavioural work, emotion-focused ideas and motivational interviewing, adapted to the client’s pace.

Vanessa supports practical goal-setting and develops simple skills to manage mood, anxiety and strong reactions. She works with issues like body image, attachment concerns, dissociation and communication problems by breaking them down into manageable steps. The aim is clearer thinking and more reliable day-to-day routines.

Her work is straightforward and down to earth. People can expect direct, respectful conversation, and a steady focus on useful, real-world changes they can try between sessions.

How her approaches work in online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening without judgement and building a trusting relationship. It helps people who need a calm space to make sense of their thoughts and feelings and to set their own goals. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings and actions and teaches practical strategies to change unhelpful thinking and habits. That can help with anxiety, low mood and stress. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions and improving day-to-day coping, which can be useful for intense reactions and relationship stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about needs, goals and preferences and together decide which combination of methods feels most useful. The process is collaborative and adjusts as progress is made.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for a shorter check-in during a lunch break, or avoid travel time. Some people prefer not being on camera and choose a simpler audio call; others like to use video for face-to-face conversation. Registered or accredited professionals can help you weigh these practical choices to find what fits your routine.