Richard Schafer

Richard Schafer is a registered counsellor with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). He has 21 years of experience and describes his main areas as stress, anxiety, addictions, relationships, self‑esteem and coping with life changes. Richard works from an integrative viewpoint and applies psychodynamic and Person Centred ideas in his practice.

Richard trained as a psychodynamic counsellor in 2003 and began private practice in 2004. He spent more than a decade as a clinical lead in statutory-sector therapeutic residential settings, which shaped how he approaches complex situations. He draws on that background when helping people who feel stuck or uncertain about what comes next.

In session he uses conversational, practical methods. He listens for patterns that cause distress and helps people look at those patterns from different angles. He also pays attention to attachment history and emotional responses that influence current choices and relationships.

People seeking help with addictions, separation, parenting concerns such as fatherhood issues, or strong feelings of guilt often come for focused, time-limited work. He offers individual counselling, and his integrative approach means he adapts methods as needed rather than following a single protocol.

Richard works in the United Kingdom and provides sessions in English. He is a long-term member of the BACP and follows their code of conduct and ethics. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and arrange an initial session.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions

Richard often uses psychodynamic ideas in his work, which focus on how past relationships and early experiences shape current feelings and behaviour. Online sessions using this approach look at recurring themes and emotional patterns to help people make sense of how they respond to life events.

He also draws on Person Centred principles, which centre on a respectful, non-directive conversation. In practice this means the therapist listens carefully, reflects what is said, and supports the client to find their own priorities and next steps.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Richard will work with each client to decide which methods suit their needs, goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and may change over the course of therapy as priorities shift.

Please confirm which session formats are available before booking, as the profile does not specify them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Some formats also require less bandwidth or let people take part without being on camera, so practical considerations can guide the choice.