Deborah Ritchie

• Stress and anxiety
• Grief and loss
• ACT and CBT methods

About Deborah

Deborah Ritchie helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, grief and issues around self-esteem using an integrative counselling approach. She works with neurodiverse clients and supports people dealing with motivation, confidence and life changes. She is a BACP member and has four years of professional experience in the UK.

In sessions she combines practical talking methods with reflective work. She uses techniques drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness to address anxious thoughts and sleep problems. Attachment-based ideas help when relationship patterns and intimacy concerns come up.

Deborah has worked in a college setting with people aged 16 and over. There she covered topics such as family relationships, sex, gender identity, self-harm and trauma, and supported people through separation and bereavement. She also has experience supporting clients with addiction, bipolar difficulty and chronic health-related stress.

Her practice includes both shorter-term focused work and longer-term counselling. Sessions aim to identify what causes distress and to try practical steps that can make daily life more manageable. She also pays attention to how past attachment experiences affect current relationships.

People can expect calm, clear conversation, practical tools from ACT and CBT, and space to reflect on feelings. Deborah works in English and offers her service within the United Kingdom. If unsure about formats, clients should confirm session options before booking.

How Deborah uses therapeutic approaches in online sessions

Deborah draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that reflect their values; this can be useful for stress, low mood and problems with motivation. Attachment-based ideas are used to look at relationship patterns and difficulties with intimacy or separation, helping people name how earlier relationships influence current ones.

She also uses client-centred techniques that focus on the person’s own perspective and pace, providing a steady, conversational setting for exploring feelings. Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process and she will work with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals.

If you want online sessions, please confirm available session formats before booking as these are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and avoid travel to appointments. Deborah will discuss practical arrangements with each person so sessions can fit into everyday life.

Topics Deborah lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Grief
• Self-esteem
• Depression
• Addictions
• LGBT
• Family conflicts
• Trauma and abuse
• Intimacy-related issues
• Sleeping disorders
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Coping with life changes
• Compassion fatigue
• ADHD
• Abandonment
• Aging and geriatric issues
• Attachment issues
• Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Avoidant personality
• Blended family issues
• Body image
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Commitment issues
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
• Dissociation
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Emptiness
• Family problems
• Forgiveness
• Gender dysphoria
• Guilt and shame
• Isolation and loneliness
• Life purpose
• Midlife crisis
• Mood disorders
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Post-traumatic stress
• Self-harm
• Self-love
• Sexual assault and abuse
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Somatization
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues
• Young adult issues

Ways of working

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy

Questions about Deborah

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed areas of focus and she uses CBT and mindfulness approaches to help manage anxious thinking.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She offers integrative counselling drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment ideas, client-centred methods, cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness.

What experience does she have?

She has four years of professional work experience and has worked as a counsellor in a college setting with people aged 16 and over.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

Yes. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Can I have sessions in languages other than English?

Sessions are offered in English only.

Does she see international clients?

No. She does not accept international clients at present.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start working with her?

Select the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.