John Ridley, BACP, NCPS

John Ridley works with people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. He supports LGBT concerns and relationship difficulties. He aims to make conversations simple and direct so people can start feeling steadier sooner.

He uses short, practical sessions that focus on what is troubling someone now. Sessions look at thoughts, feelings and actions so people can try different ways of coping. He adapts the pace and approach to suit each person rather than following one fixed method.

John has three years of professional experience and holds BACP and NCPS credentials. BACP stands for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and NCPS refers to the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society; these are the credentials listed for him.

Alongside common concerns he also works with issues such as attachment problems, ageing and geriatric matters, autism and Asperger Syndrome, body image, chronic illness and pain, addiction, and communication or commitment difficulties. He also supports people dealing with abandonment, caregiver strain, divorce and separation, and aspects of kink and alternative sex culture.

His style is respectful and compassionate. He invites people to set practical goals and to try small changes between sessions. The aim is steady progress rather than quick fixes. He encourages honest conversation and practical steps that fit everyday life.

How therapy approaches translate to online support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It encourages living according to personal values and taking small actions that matter. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. Both approaches suit problems like anxiety, low mood and stress and can be used in short, focused sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful. Together they will try methods and adapt them based on what helps in real life, so the plan fits the person's needs rather than the other way around.

Online sessions can be done by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging. Video calls are useful for in-depth conversation and visual cues, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat is good for shorter check-ins, and text messaging lets people keep a running note and check in between sessions. These options give flexibility for work, caring responsibilities or tight schedules while keeping a steady therapeutic routine.