Vanessa Richards, BACP
Compassionate counsellor for life changes
Details
| Name | Vanessa Richards |
|---|---|
| Credentials | BACP |
| Based in | United Kingdom |
| Registered with | BACP |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 5 |
About Vanessa
Vanessa Richards is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties. She also offers support for trauma and abuse, self‑esteem issues, addictions and grief. Vanessa works with a wide range of concerns such as ADHD, parenting strain, career worries and coping with life changes.
She describes a relational style that puts the person at the centre of the work. Sessions are conversational and practical. Clients can expect to talk through recent events, identify patterns, and try out small changes between meetings.
Background and approach
Vanessa uses Narrative Therapy alongside client‑centred and cognitive approaches to look at the stories people tell about themselves. She also draws on techniques from dialectical work and emotionally focused methods to help with strong emotions and relationship patterns. These approaches are used together to fit the person's needs rather than as rigid steps.
Vanessa holds BACP registration, and has five years of counselling experience. She has worked in healthcare and public-sector roles, supporting people through trauma, illness and major life transitions. This background informs her practical, grounded approach to therapy.
Work can take the form of short-term problem-focused work or longer conversations about identity and meaning. Sessions aim to be collaborative, with clear goals and regular review. This helps people see progress and decide next steps as they go.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse among the things Vanessa works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, 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 counseling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / 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
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Vanessa among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Vanessa directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Vanessa directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Narrative and Practical Approaches Work Online
Vanessa uses Narrative Therapy to help people look at the stories they tell about themselves and the problems they face. That work often involves separating the person from the problem and noticing how language shapes feelings and choices. It can be helpful for issues like low self‑esteem, identity questions, and recurring patterns in relationships.She also uses Client‑Centred Therapy, which focuses on listening closely and building a supportive, non-judgemental relationship. This approach helps when someone needs space to make sense of difficult feelings. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, is used to spot unhelpful thoughts and try small behavioural changes that reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist and client discuss goals and preferences and choose methods that feel useful. That collaborative decision is reviewed regularly so the plan can change if needed.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is good for face-to-face conversation, phone works when bandwidth is limited, live chat helps quick check-ins, and messaging supports shorter reflections between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Vanessa help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship difficulties, addictions and grief, among other issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The style is relational and conversational, focusing on listening and working together to identify patterns and practical steps to try between sessions.
What is her experience and background?
She has five years of counselling experience and has worked in healthcare and public-sector roles supporting people affected by trauma, illness and life change.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is registered with the BACP and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages and client regions are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be held by video call, phone, live chat, or via text-based messaging.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with Vanessa?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Vanessa are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Vanessa where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
Or see other therapists in United Kingdom »
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Other listings in this directory
- Patricia Pardy, LMHC, LCPC - New York
- Wendy Galyen, LCSW - Indiana
- Danielle Doskocil, LPC, LCMHC - South Carolina
- Moushumi Ghose, LMFT - California
- All therapists for stress, anxiety »