Maria "Ri" Punt

Maria "Ri" Punt is a counsellor registered with BACP and has practiced for 19 years in the United Kingdom. She works with people facing relationship issues, LGBT concerns, family difficulties, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes. She also supports people dealing with sexuality questions, polyamory and non-monogamous relationships, and matters around life purpose.

Ri uses an integrative approach, drawing on different therapeutic techniques to match what a person needs. Sessions are conversational and focused on what is happening now, while also looking at past experiences that shape current patterns. She aims to help people name and understand unhelpful cycles, and to build practical ways to manage them.

In practice Ri listens for the patterns that keep people stuck. She helps clients break issues down into manageable steps. That can include working on boundaries, processing difficult events, or making decisions about relationships and work. She will talk through options rather than prescribe one fixed route.

Her background includes long-term work with people affected by trauma, domestic violence, chronic illness and caregiving stress. She has experience with first responder and veteran issues, and with people living with HIV or facing prejudice. This range informs how she adapts conversations and pacing to each person.

Sessions are conducted in English and she does not take international clients at present. Fees vary with location and a subscription model is used that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, clients use the See online therapy options button, complete a short questionnaire and schedule a first session.

Approach and what to expect from online sessions

Maria "Ri" Punt works in an integrative way, combining evidence-based techniques to match a person's needs. One common approach she uses is trauma-informed talking therapy, which helps people process past events and reduce their ongoing impact. Another strand is relational work that focuses on how patterns in relationships start and repeat, useful for couples thinking about boundaries or individuals re-evaluating their connections.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Ri will discuss different methods with clients and agree a plan based on their goals and preferences. This collaborative process means techniques can be adjusted over time according to what helps most.

Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting counselling around daily life and reducing travel time. Depending on the service booking process, people can arrange sessions at times that suit work or caring responsibilities and use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. Confirm the exact session formats offered before booking so you know how appointments will be arranged and what to expect.