Richard Whitelaw, BACP

Richard Whitelaw is a counsellor practising in the United Kingdom with six years of professional experience and a BACP credential. He focuses on common life pressures such as stress, anxiety, grief, anger, low self-esteem and depression. He aims to meet people where they are and tailor sessions to each person’s needs.

He works in a warm, respectful way and keeps things straightforward. Conversations centre on what matters most to the client and on practical steps they can test between sessions. Richard adapts his style to the person rather than applying a fixed method.

Richard uses client-centred ideas that place the person's experience at the heart of the work. He also draws on mindfulness practices to help people notice and calm strong emotions. Internal Family Systems approaches are used when helpful to understand different parts of the self and how they relate.

People commonly bring concerns such as relationship fallout, midlife changes, money worries, caring responsibilities, and feelings of isolation. Richard helps people talk these things through and build clearer ways of coping and deciding what matters next.

Sessions are tailored to the individual and the focus can shift as needs change. He encourages small, manageable experiments in daily life so progress is practical and visible over time.

How Richard's approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person's perspective. In practice this means the counsellor reflects and asks open questions so the client leads the pace and topics; it is useful for building trust and sorting priorities.

Mindfulness Therapy involves simple attention practices and body awareness. These tools help with anxiety, stress and strong emotions by teaching ways to notice thoughts and sensations without immediate reaction.

Internal Family Systems looks at the different parts that make up a person's inner world and how they interact. It can be helpful for understanding self-criticism, impulsive urges, or feelings of abandonment and shame.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and together they will decide what methods to try. This collaborative process means approaches can change as progress is made.

Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting therapy into a busy week and reducing travel time. Many people find it easier to attend regular meetings this way and to try short catch-ups when needed. The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm which options are offered before booking to ensure they fit into your routine.