Richard Whitelaw

Richard Whitelaw is a BACP counsellor with six years of professional experience based in the United Kingdom. He supports people navigating stress, anxiety, grief, anger and low self-esteem. He aims to treat everyone with respect, sensitivity and compassion. Taking the first step can feel hard, and he acknowledges that courage in anyone who reaches out.

Richard adapts conversations and plans to each person’s situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. He helps people talk through difficult emotions and practical problems. This includes coping with loss, managing strong feelings, and rebuilding confidence after setbacks.

He uses client-centred work to make sessions focused on what matters most to the individual. Mindfulness techniques are offered to help with intense thoughts and ongoing worry. Internal Family Systems is used to look at inner parts that influence behaviour and feeling.

Richard also works with concerns such as attachment and abandonment, body image, caregiver stress, and isolation or loneliness. He can help people who are dealing with money worries, midlife shifts or relationship breakdowns to clarify next steps.

The style is straightforward and calm, with an emphasis on listening and practical steps. Sessions aim to be a place to sort priorities, learn coping tools and try different ways of responding to old patterns. He encourages gradual changes that fit each person’s life.

How his approaches translate to online work

Richard uses client-centred therapy to keep sessions focused on what matters to the individual, encouraging people to set the pace and topics they want to work on. Mindfulness therapy is offered as short practices and simple breathing or grounding exercises to help manage worry and stress in day-to-day life. Internal Family Systems helps people notice and talk to different parts of themselves that hold emotions or urges, which can be useful for issues like shame, anger or feeling stuck.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will talk with the client about what feels most useful and try different methods until a good fit is found. This is a collaborative process where goals and preferences shape the plan for sessions.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy routine, for example by cutting travel time, making shorter check-ins possible, or allowing people to choose a quieter moment during the day. It also lets conversations continue even when life makes in-person meetings difficult. Registered or accredited professionals and therapists commonly use online sessions to support steady progress while people juggle work, family and other commitments.