Richard Whitenstall, BACP

Richard Whitenstall works as a counsellor in the United Kingdom and brings 11 years of experience to his practice. He uses a client-centred approach and aims to help people who feel stuck by focusing on practical steps they can take. He explains things plainly and moves at a pace that feels manageable for each person.

Richard began his counselling path in 2013 with placements at Hampshire charities No Limits and Cruse. He later set up and ran a counselling service for Positive21 in London between 2017 and 2019. He also co-authored a book called Strength to Talk, with proceeds going to the charity Mind.

His work has included project roles supporting LGBT young people facing risks such as exploitation and domestic abuse. He has presented to professionals, for example at the CAMHS County Forum in 2014, to raise awareness of the particular risks some LGBT young people face. That background informs how he approaches safeguarding and risk within sessions.

Richard supports people with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, stress, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, addictions, self-harm, ADHD, and challenges linked to chronic illness or disability. He also works with topics such as attachment, gender dysphoria, polyamory and non-monogamous relationships, and BDSM and kink-related matters.

Sessions are offered in English and he sees clients from the UK and internationally. He aims to help people clarify what they want to change, accept what cannot be changed, and make a simple plan to move forward.

How Richard's approaches translate to online counselling

Client-Centred Therapy emphasises the person's own experience and choices. The therapist listens closely, reflects what is heard, and helps people find their own solutions; this is useful when someone needs space to make sense of feelings or big decisions.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It uses simple exercises and practical steps to change unhelpful patterns and is often helpful for anxiety, low mood and sleep problems.

Solution-Focused Therapy looks at strengths and what already works. Sessions concentrate on small, manageable changes and clear goals to build momentum rather than spending a long time on causes.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Richard will talk with each person about goals, preferences and what feels most useful. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust the plan as things change.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation without travel. Phone sessions or live chat can fit into a short break or be easier when bandwidth is limited. Text-based messaging supports ongoing check-ins and brief updates between longer sessions. These options help people keep therapy consistent around work, family and daily life.