Becky Ridgewell

Hello and a warm welcome to my profile!

I am a compassionate, energetic, active listener who is curious to hear your story. I bring empathy and non-judgement into the therapy space and will gently challenge self-limiting beliefs and blocks that might be stopping you from achieving and living your best life.

I believe we all hold the key to our own wellbeing and that it's never too late to change old habits that no longer serve us. I enjoy facilitating change and witnessing the shift from thoughts of helplessness towards a more empowered way of being.

Are you struggling to connect with others? 

Do you feel stressed, anxious or restless?

Is it hard to switch off?

Do you ask yourself existential questions and struggle to find meaning in your life?

Is it sometimes hard to say 'no' or difficult to speak your truth?

Have you experienced loss but feel unable to grieve or move on?

Having lived experience of struggling with much that life can throw our way, I have used therapy, mindfulness and time in nature to come to a more connected and calmer place.

I try to have balance in my life - making time to explore personal interests alongside my therapeutic work. I enjoy being in nature, growing my own veggies, walking and have a well established mindfulness practice that allows me to be present even in the stormiest of moments.

I also enjoy creative writing, the arts and dancing. I frequently bring this creative zeal into the kitchen with mixed results - I am happy to model imperfection and culinary mishaps to those around me!

The Way I Work

In your first session we will evaluate where you are right now and then work together to identify goals or areas you wish to work on. These can be reviewed periodically during the sessions. 

The therapy session can be a safe, warm, confidential space where you can be heard and explore difficult thoughts, feelings and behaviours. We might explore how to break certain behaviour patterns. We might also explore self care techniques or ways for you to reconnect to what gives you joy, your values or purpose.

If you decide to work with me in counselling the sessions are fifty minutes long and take place weekly. Commitment to the process is an important part of counselling, so please check in with your self if this is the right time to be embarking on what can be a bumpy but also rewarding journey. I will sometimes, gently and kindly, challenge you, if we spot some avoidance or other self sabotaging behaviours that might arise in the therapy. You might be given take home tasks - things to try out or new ways to communicate in between sessions, for example.

As well as working with adults and couples I also work with children and young people - I partner with schools to deliver therapy and mindfulness to children and young people within school settings and after school.

I also currently work with students who have one or more disability or neuro-diversity at Cambridge University to enable them to get the best out of their time at uni. I can bring this experience of working with issues around the transition from home life to university life into therapeutic sessions with young people when appropriate.

The model I use to work therapeutically is integrative - this means I integrate Person Centred and Psychodynamic Approaches along with trauma informed practice, models of grief therapy, aspects of CBT and somatic therapy to offer clients a holistic and bespoke therapy experience, tailored to their needs. I use present moment awareness to stay present and grounded during sessions, I am committed to offering the core conditions (empathy, congruence and acceptance) to each client I meet. I offer sessions in-person or online. I have extensive experience gained within the charity and public sector of delivering 1-2-1 counselling, early interventions and group work.

Get in Touch

If you have read this far you might be considering making contact - I understand this can be a difficult step to make and so will welcome your enquiry. We can arrange a free 15 minute conversation to see if my way of working might feel a good fit for you.  From there we can work out how to move forward if you decide to take up counselling.

Concessionary Rates available - I also offer a 15 minute telephone session to see if my way of working is suitable for you. Email me to ask about accessing concessionary rates and to arrange an initial conversation.

As well as being a registered BACP Counsellor I am also a mindfulness teacher (registered with BAMBA) and practitioner and have also trained in using Qigong therapeutically. I can bring this into therapeutic work if you feel this may be useful to you in your therapeutic journey.