Rines Shanthakumar, BACP

Rines Shanthakumar is a UK-based integrative counsellor who combines professional training with a compassionate, client-focused approach. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Counselling from the University of East London - a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in counselling - and is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom. With three years of clinical experience, he supports people facing a wide range of emotional and relational challenges.

Rines works with clients from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent people, those living with disabilities, and people managing long-term health conditions. He offers flexible appointment times across mornings, evenings, and weekends and is available to work with clients worldwide. His practice is integrative in style, drawing on person-centred, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural, and existential techniques so that interventions are tailored to each person he sees.

He has experience supporting depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, self-esteem concerns, identity and motivation issues, and challenges related to life transitions. Rines aims to build a respectful, sensitive, and compassionate therapeutic relationship that helps clients gain clarity, increase resilience, and improve confidence to navigate life changes. He welcomes enquiries from new clients and offers a collaborative, goal-focused approach to therapy.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationship patterns shape current emotional responses and interpersonal difficulties. It can be helpful for people dealing with abandonment, attachment issues, or recurring relationship challenges by exploring how past bonds influence present behaviour.

Client-Centred Therapy places the person at the heart of the process, offering empathic listening and non-directive support to help individuals explore their values, identity, and self-worth. This approach often benefits those working on self-esteem, life direction, and relationship dynamics.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works with the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to develop practical strategies for managing anxiety, stress, and low mood. It is a structured approach that helps people identify unhelpful patterns and build alternative ways of coping.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Rines will work collaboratively with each client to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. The selection of techniques is guided by the client’s concerns and the evolving work in therapy.

Online therapy with Rines is offered by video call, phone session, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people with busy schedules or those living further away. These options make it easier to access a registered professional at times that suit mornings, evenings, and weekends, and help maintain continuity of care during life transitions.