Richard Whitelaw, BACP

Richard Whitelaw is a counsellor with six years of professional experience in the United Kingdom. He holds BACP accreditation, which is listed as his professional credential. He focuses on stress, anxiety, grief, anger, self-esteem and depression, and aims to make the first steps into therapy easier for people who are nervous about starting.

Richard works in a respectful and compassionate way. He listens carefully and adapts conversations to each person's needs. Sessions are personalised so people can focus on what matters most to them in a short space of time.

He uses client-centred methods that keep the person’s priorities at the heart of the work. He also draws on mindfulness practices to help manage stress and strong emotions. Internal Family Systems is part of his approach when people want to look at different parts of themselves and how those parts interact.

Common concerns Richard supports include grief and loss, low motivation, anger, and issues around confidence and self-worth. He also helps with relationship communication problems, attachment or abandonment worries, and life transitions such as separation and midlife questions.

Sessions aim to be straightforward and practical. Richard works with each person to build a plan that fits their situation and goals. He encourages small steps that add up to real change over time.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Richard uses client-centred work that keeps the person's concerns at the centre of each session. This approach means the focus is on what the client wants to change, with the counsellor following their lead and shaping sessions around their priorities.

Mindfulness Therapy is used to teach simple attention and breathing practices. These tools help reduce stress and calm racing thoughts when anxiety or overwhelm are present. Internal Family Systems involves noticing different parts of a person’s inner life and learning how to respond to them with curiosity rather than judgement; this can help with patterns like self-criticism or impulsivity.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options and tailor methods to the client's goals, preferences and everyday life. Sessions are collaborative and may combine elements from the approaches above depending on what helps most.

Confirm the specific session formats before booking because the biography does not list them. Online work can still fit around daily commitments and can make it easier to join from different locations. Practical benefits include shorter travel time, simpler scheduling and the ability to continue work between face-to-face appointments if that suits the person.