Richard Gordon-Smith

Richard Gordon-Smith is a counsellor with 13 years' experience who helps people work through stress, anxiety, anger and relationship concerns. He supports those dealing with depression, addictions, parenting strain and identity-related issues, including LGBT matters. Richard aims to make the first steps into therapy straightforward and approachable for anyone feeling unsure about what comes next.

Richard studied psychology before completing an Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling with the University of Manchester. He holds NCPS, which is shown here as NCPS. Over more than a decade he has worked across mental health settings and in counselling roles that shaped his practical, down-to-earth approach.

In sessions he draws on a mix of methods so people can find what works for them. He offers person-centred work that focuses on the client's experience, emotion-focused approaches to help process feelings, cognitive behavioural techniques to tackle unhelpful thoughts and psychodynamic ideas to consider how past experience affects now. Solution-focused tools are used when clear, short-term goals are helpful.

Richard keeps the room simple and respectful. He listens, asks questions, and helps people make small changes that fit their life. He pays attention to patterns in relationships, attachment and self-worth, and works collaboratively to set practical steps between sessions.

People who want a thoughtful, experienced counsellor often choose him for issues around grief, intimacy, sleep and anger. He offers sessions in English and accepts international clients, and uses a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How his approaches translate to online counselling

Richard uses attachment-based ideas to look at patterns in relationships and how early bonds affect feelings now; this helps when anger, trust or relationship problems are central. He also draws on client-centred work which places the person’s experience at the heart of sessions and supports self-directed change. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and try practical experiments to change moods and behaviours.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist discusses goals and preferences with each person and together they decide which methods to try. This collaborative process means plans can change as needs become clearer.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy life. It can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins between appointments and help people join from another location when that suits their schedule. The original biography does not list which session formats are offered, so check the current options before booking. Registered or accredited professionals and therapists commonly combine different approaches to match practical needs and life constraints, and Richard will work with clients to find what fits best.