Rines Shanthakumar, BACP

Rines Shanthakumar helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and relationship difficulties. He also supports those coping with life changes and related issues such as body image, codependency, addiction and chronic illness. Rines is based in the United Kingdom and works in English and Tamil.

He trained in counselling and holds a BACP registration, which means he follows the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy framework. His style is approachable and down-to-earth. Sessions focus on what matters to the client and on practical steps to feel steadier day to day.

Rines uses an integrative approach. That means he draws on several therapy styles and adapts them to the person in front of him. Techniques often come from client-centred work, cognitive behavioural ideas, attachment-informed thinking, existential questions and mindfulness practice.

In sessions he aims to build a respectful, non-judgemental relationship. Conversations are used to identify unhelpful patterns, try out new ways of relating, and practise simple skills that can be used between meetings. The emphasis is on clarity and small, manageable change.

He has three years of experience working with a range of concerns, including abandonment, attachment difficulties, dissociation, communication and commitment issues. People who choose him often want steady support while they make sense of painful feelings and take practical steps towards feeling more confident and connected.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships influence current patterns. It helps with fears of abandonment, trust issues and difficulties forming close bonds. Client-centred work focuses on listening and understanding without judgement, helping people find their own solutions and build self-worth. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, offering practical exercises to reduce anxiety and lift mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful, and then try approaches together. The process is collaborative, with adjustments made as the client learns what helps most.

Please confirm the specific session options before booking because formats are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing meetings at different times of day. It can also make short check-ins or practical skills practice simpler to schedule around work or family commitments. Registered and accredited professionals use a range of methods to help clients make steady, practical progress.