Maria "Ri" Punt, BACP

Maria "Ri" Punt is a United Kingdom based therapist who creates a warm, relaxed and personal space for people to explore their challenges. She approaches counselling as a collaborative process in which individuals can examine their experiences, gain clarity, and develop greater awareness in a non-biased and empathic setting.

Working in an integrative way, she draws on a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to tailor sessions to each person and situation. Maria emphasises the therapeutic relationship as a central part of change - helping clients to feel trust and safety so they can examine difficult thoughts and feelings at their own pace. Her practice supports people dealing with relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, life changes, and a variety of sexuality and identity issues including LGBT matters and alternative sex cultures.

With 19 years of experience, Maria brings a steady, client-focused approach that aims to reconnect individuals with their inner strength, resilience, and practical resources. She holds the BACP credential - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which identifies affiliation with the major professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK. Her work is oriented toward helping clients access their own insight and reach their potential through thoughtful, personalised care.

Integrative and Relationship-Focused Care Delivered Online

Maria "Ri" Punt practices from an integrative framework, blending evidence-based techniques to meet each person where they are. An integrative approach means she selects methods that fit a client’s needs rather than following a single model, which can help with a wide range of concerns from life transitions to relationship problems.

She also emphasises relationship-focused work, attending to patterns in how people relate to others and to themselves. This approach helps clients explore family dynamics, couple and non-monogamous relationship issues, and communication patterns that affect wellbeing.

For those affected by trauma and abuse, her practice is informed by trauma-aware principles that prioritise pacing, safety, and building coping resources. These ways of working support recovery from post-traumatic stress, chronic stress, and related difficulties without assuming a one-size-fits-all path.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Maria works collaboratively with clients and with registered professionals to identify techniques that match personal goals, preferences, and life circumstances. Online sessions - by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - make this collaboration flexible and accessible, allowing therapy to fit around work, caregiving, or health needs while maintaining continuity of care.