Vanessa Richards, BACP

Vanessa Richards is a BACP-registered therapist based in the United Kingdom with 5 years of professional experience. She works with people facing a broad range of challenges including stress and anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, depression, addictions, family and grief issues, eating and parenting concerns, anger and career difficulties, bipolar disorder, ADHD and coping with life changes. Vanessa also offers focused support for issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care, attachment and dissociation difficulties, body image and cancer-related distress, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, codependency, and communication or control problems.

Vanessa draws on a mix of evidence-informed approaches to tailor work to each person - including client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral strategies, dialectical behavior skills, emotionally-focused techniques and motivational interviewing. She aims to build a collaborative relationship that helps clients explore their experiences, identify practical steps for change and strengthen resilience. Sessions are available in English and Vanessa accepts international clients, offering flexible remote options to fit different needs and circumstances.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Vanessa blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to address a range of concerns. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where a person’s own goals and insights guide the pace of change - it is useful for exploring identity, relationships and emotional processing. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, making it effective for anxiety, depression and stress-related problems. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches practical skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for intense emotions, relationship conflict and self-destructive patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Vanessa works collaboratively with each person to select and adapt techniques based on their needs, goals and preferences, and registered professionals can adjust the focus as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access support from different locations and choose the communication style that feels most helpful.