Vanessa Richards

• Stress and anxiety
• Trauma and abuse
• CBT and EFT

About Vanessa

Vanessa Richards helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, depression and addictions. She also supports those facing grief, eating concerns, parenting strain, anger, career changes, bipolar symptoms, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue and ADHD. Vanessa uses a relational, collaborative approach and works from an integrative perspective. She is a BACP member and has five years of counselling experience.

Vanessa draws on a mix of counselling methods to suit what each person brings. She listens to current difficulties and looks at practical ways to manage thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Sessions focus on what is happening now, and on building skills to cope between meetings.

Her background includes work supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence within government services, and several years treating people with depression, anxiety and relationship difficulties in the NHS and private sector. Vanessa also has clinical experience as a therapeutic radiographer, which informs her understanding of the cancer pathway and related stresses.

She uses relational work to develop trust and then applies methods such as cognitive behavioural techniques and emotion-focused tools where these fit. Motivational interviewing and elements of dialectical behaviour therapy are used to build motivation and emotional regulation when appropriate.

Sessions are presented in a straightforward way, with clear aims and steps to try between meetings. Vanessa accepts international clients and holds consultations in English.

Approaches used in online counselling with Vanessa

Vanessa often draws on client-centred work and cognitive behavioural therapy in sessions. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on building a helpful, respectful relationship so people can talk through thoughts and feelings, which suits issues like low self-esteem or relationship strain. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) gives clear tools to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and try different behaviours, which is useful for anxiety, depression and stress.

She also uses elements of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy when emotional regulation and coping skills are needed, offering practical skills for managing strong feelings and reducing impulsive reactions. Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the process; the counsellor will work collaboratively to decide what fits the client’s needs, goals and preferences as sessions progress.

Please confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific options here. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling around busy days, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also means people can continue therapy while living in a different country, provided time zones and scheduling allow.

Topics Vanessa lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Trauma and abuse
• Self-esteem
• Depression
• Addictions
• Family conflicts
• Grief
• Eating disorders
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Coping with life changes
• Coaching
• Compassion fatigue
• ADHD
• Abandonment
• Adoption and foster care
• Antisocial personality
• Attachment issues
• Avoidant personality
• Blended family issues
• Body image
• Cancer
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Codependency
• Commitment issues
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Dissociation
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Eating and food-related issues
• Family of origin issues
• Family problems
• Fertility issues
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Hospice and end-of-life counselling
• Impulsivity
• Infidelity
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Men's issues
• Midlife crisis
• Money and financial issues
• Multicultural concerns
• Narcissism
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Postpartum depression
• Post-traumatic stress
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Prejudice and discrimination
• Self-harm
• Self-love
• Sexual assault and abuse
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Visually impaired
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues
• Young adult issues

Ways of working

• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Motivational Interviewing
• Narrative Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Trauma-Focused Therapy
• Internal Family Systems
• Systemic Therapy

Questions about Vanessa

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. She helps people manage anxiety using practical strategies and cognitive techniques.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She practises an integrative, relational style drawing on client-centred work, CBT, DBT, EFT and motivational interviewing.

What is her professional background?

She has five years of counselling experience and prior clinical work as a therapeutic radiographer supporting people affected by cancer.

Where is she based?

She is based in the United Kingdom and is a member of the BACP.

Can I have sessions in English?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does she accept international clients?

Yes. She accepts international clients.

How much do sessions cost?

Costs vary with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start working with her?

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