Online therapy · United Kingdom In crisis? Call 116 123 (Samaritans, free, any hour)
Browse profiles
Home Counsellors Richard Whitenstall
Portrait of Richard Whitenstall

Directory entry

Richard Whitenstall, BACP

Credentials
BACP
Experience
11 years
Practising in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Sessions
Online only
Client ages
Adults, 18 and over

Works with Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changes

Ready when you are

Richard sees clients through BetterHelp. Answer a few questions to ask about starting - free, and no commitment.

Get started with Richard

Affiliate link. We will earn a commission if you sign up, at no cost to you.

Richard Whitenstall is a counsellor with eleven years' experience working in mental health and community settings. He draws on a background supporting LGBT people and has run services in charity and independent practice. He aims to make first steps into therapy straightforward and practical.

He began his counselling work in 2013 with placements at Hampshire charities, then set up and ran a counselling service for a London charity between 2017 and 2019.

Background and approach

He later founded his own independent practice and has worked with international clients. He has also co-authored a book on men’s mental health and produced a mental health podcast. Richard focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties.

He also supports those dealing with grief, addiction, sleeping problems and career pressures. Areas of additional focus include attachment difficulties, chronic pain and disability, gender dysphoria, and intimacy or sexual culture concerns such as BDSM and kink. His style is client-centred and collaborative.

Sessions move at the client’s pace and focus on practical steps the person wants to take. He combines this with time-limited techniques to address unhelpful thoughts and to set clear, achievable goals. Richard works with a broad range of concerns including self-harm, process addictions and issues around HIV/AIDS.

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs. Sessions are arranged via a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How therapeutic approaches work online

Client-Centred Therapy places the person's experience at the centre of the work. The counsellor listens closely, reflects what matters to the client and helps them decide the pace and direction of change. This approach is useful when someone needs a supportive space to make sense of difficult feelings.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours connect. It uses simple exercises to challenge unhelpful thinking and build different habits, which can help with anxiety, depression and sleeping problems. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on the client’s goals and small practical steps; it is goal-directed and helpful when someone wants quicker, action-orientated change.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to choose or combine methods based on their needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative decision is reviewed as progress is made.

Online work through video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text messaging offers flexibility for different situations. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation, phone is lower bandwidth and good for shorter check-ins, while chat and messaging suit quick updates or when not being on camera is preferable. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and travel commitments.
What kinds of problems does Richard help with?
He helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties, plus grief, addictions, sleeping problems and career pressures.
How would he describe his way of working?
He uses a client-centred style alongside techniques from cognitive behavioural and solution-focused approaches to set goals and change unhelpful thinking.
What experience does he bring to sessions?
Richard has worked in counselling since 2013 across charities and independent practice and has eleven years' professional experience supporting varied mental health needs.
Where is he based and what credential does he hold?
He is based in the United Kingdom and holds accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.
Can I work with him if I'm outside the UK?
Yes. Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time; cost varies with location and therapist availability.
How do I begin working with him?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of focus

What this therapist works with

Most often

Also listed

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
11 years
Registered with
BACP
Languages
English

Contacting Richard

Richard takes enquiries through BetterHelp. You answer a few questions about what you are looking for, then arrange sessions if it seems like a fit. Browsing costs nothing and you are not committing to anything by reading this page.

Contact Richard

We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.

Others working with stress, anxiety

See all →
Contact Richard