Richard Schafer

• Stress and anxiety
• Psychodynamic work
• Person centred approach

About Richard

Richard Schafer works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem and coping with life changes. He uses an integrative approach that draws on psychodynamic and person-centred principles. He is a long-term member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has 21 years of experience.

Richard trained as a psychodynamic counsellor in 2003 and began private practice in 2004. He spent over 12 years working as a clinical lead in statutory-sector therapeutic residential settings. Those roles shaped his practical approach to talking therapies.

He combines psychodynamic ideas about unconscious patterns and early relationships with person-centred work that focuses on the immediate experience in the room. That mix aims to help people understand repeating patterns and also work on day-to-day coping and decision-making.

Sessions tend to involve talking through current problems, reflecting on past influences, and trying out new ways of communicating or managing impulses. Richard explains ideas plainly and pays attention to how people describe their feelings and relationships.

He practises in Clapham SW4 in the United Kingdom and works with people on issues such as abandonment, attachment and communication problems, anger and control issues, and substance misuse. Sessions are offered in English and the service accepts international clients.

To begin, people are asked to use the site matching process to arrange an initial appointment. Fees vary with location and a subscription model is used, which can be cancelled at any time.

How therapeutic approaches work for online sessions

Richard often draws on psychodynamic ideas, which look at repeating relationship patterns and early influences to help people understand why they feel or react in certain ways. This approach can be useful for problems like attachment issues, abandonment concerns and entrenched behaviour patterns.

He also uses person-centred principles that focus on the person's immediate experience and the quality of the conversation. That approach supports work on self-esteem, coping with life changes and discussing difficult feelings in clear, straightforward terms.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss your goals and preferences and choose techniques that fit those aims, so the plan evolves together rather than being fixed from the start.

Practical benefits of remote sessions depend on the formats offered. The biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm the available options before booking. In general, remote sessions can fit around work or family commitments, reduce travel time, and make shorter check-ins easier to schedule. They can also allow people who live abroad to work with registered professionals in the UK without relocating.

Topics Richard lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Addictions
• Relationship issues
• Self-esteem
• Coping with life changes
• Abandonment
• Antisocial personality
• Attachment issues
• Avoidant personality
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Divorce and separation
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Emptiness
• Family problems
• Fatherhood issues
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Impulsivity
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Men's issues
• Money and financial issues
• Post-traumatic stress
• Process addictions
• Self-love
• Sex addiction
• Sexuality
• Quitting smoking or vaping
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Workplace issues

Questions about Richard

Does he work with anxiety?

Yes. He lists anxiety and stress among the main concerns he helps people with.

What kind of counselling does he offer?

He uses an integrative model combining psychodynamic and person-centred approaches to address both past patterns and present coping.

How long has he been practising?

He has 21 years of experience, having qualified in 2003 and begun private practice in 2004.

Is he registered with a professional body in the UK?

Yes. He is a long-term member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Can I have sessions in English or from another country?

Sessions are offered in English and the service accepts international clients.

What session formats are available?

Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are offered.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start with him?

Use the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.