Richard Schafer

Richard Schafer helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction and loneliness. He also supports those struggling with relationships, low self‑esteem and coping with big life changes. Richard is named in the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and has practised for many years.

Richard trained in psychodynamic counselling in 2003 and moved into private practice in 2004. He has more than two decades of overall experience and spent over 12 years working as a clinical lead in therapeutic residential settings. That background shaped how he works with strong emotional issues and recurring life patterns.

He follows an integrative model that draws mainly on psychodynamic ideas and Person Centred principles. In practice that means looking at past and present patterns together, while keeping the pace set by the person in the room. Sessions focus on noticing repeated reactions, learning why they happen, and testing new ways of responding.

Richard describes therapy as a collaborative process. He aims to create a steady, thoughtful space where people can talk through pain, confusion and choices. Work can include exploring attachment concerns such as abandonment, avoidant tendencies, or feelings of emptiness.

Clients also bring issues like communication problems, control struggles, guilt, forgiveness, and problems linked to drug and alcohol use. He will discuss goals and practical steps at the start, tailoring each plan to the person’s needs and circumstances.

Therapeutic approaches and online options

Richard’s work draws mainly on psychodynamic and Person Centred approaches. Psychodynamic work looks at how earlier relationships and repeated patterns affect current feelings and choices; it helps when people feel stuck in the same reactions. Person Centred work focuses on the person’s experience in the moment, offering acceptance and reflection so they can find their own solutions.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what has helped before, and then agree a way of working together. This is a collaborative process that can change as needs evolve.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so please confirm the current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time and allow someone to meet from their usual surroundings. It can also allow shorter check‑ins or sessions that suit quieter times and different schedules. Registered or accredited professionals and therapists often combine approaches to match the issues people bring, and Richard will help identify which methods are likely to be most useful for each person.