About me
I am Riccardo Carosi, a counsellor with over 16 years of experience. I offer a range of ways of working together, including couples therapy, individual counselling for adults, counselling for young people, and Single Session Therapy for adults seeking focused, immediate support. Each is outlined below.
I believe in my clients’ potential to grow, heal, and thrive, even through the most difficult experiences. My approach to therapy goes beyond just teaching self-care tools like breathing techniques, mindfulness practices and grounding exercises. While these valuable tools can help manage immediate challenges, my focus is on building my clients’ capacity to embrace and overcome struggles.
Working with couples and relationships:
Difficulties in regard to:
- Communication
- Affairs
- Arguments
- Managing difference
- Parenting
- Deciding whether to stay together or separate
- Negotiating different life stages
Many couples come to therapy when they’re feeling unheard, disconnected, or stuck in the same arguments. You might be struggling to talk about worries or fears, facing changes in your intimate life, or feeling the impact of stress and distance that’s built up, especially since the pandemic. Communication may feel strained, and what once was a loving exchange may now feel tense, isolating, and painful.
As a therapist experienced in working with a wide range of relationships, I offer a space where both partners can explore what’s going on, understand each other more deeply, and find ways to move forward. I work with complete respect for Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity (GSRD), and tailor therapy to the unique dynamics and challenges you’re facing.
Working with individual clients:
In these fifteen years, I have gathered extensive training and experience in working with:
- Anxiety
- Relationship problems
- Anger
- ADHD - ASD
- Separation/Divorce
- Family issues
- Low Mood/Depression
- Bereavement and loss
- Emotional impact of boarding school
- Low self-esteem and low self-confidence
- Trans/Gender Diverse - LGBTQ+ counselling (I am a gender affirming therapist)
My aim is to empower clients to understand themselves, understand their reactions to life events and their behaviour within relationships. The work will provide support to develop the capacity to face struggles head-on, transforming them into opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Through this process, they build the emotional strength and insight needed to thrive, no matter what life brings their way.
Counselling for Young People:
Alongside my work with adults, I am fully trained in working with young people. I have been emotionally supporting young people for over 16 years in diverse educational settings. In addition to my private practice, I am employed by the charity Barnardo’s, where I specialise in working with children, teens and their parents/carers.
These are some of the issues I deal with on a regular base:
- Anxiety
- ADHD - ASD
- Bullying
- Behavioural struggles
- Isolation
- Family issues
- Loss and illness in the family
- School refusal
- Gender identity and LGBTQ+ related issues
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
The isolation of the lockdowns, the increasingly aggressive social climate, the impact of neurodiversity, cuts to national resources, and the pervasive use of social media are just some of the reasons why so many children and adolescents are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety. The consequences can be far-reaching—ranging from school avoidance to self-medication, physical pain expressed through self-harm, and a sense of being unable to go out or socialise. Counselling can offer a safe space, steady support, and meaningful emotional benefits.
I believe that having the ability of engaging adolescents is critical in maximising the success of counselling for them. The skill of engagement it is something that I have acquired by working with adolescents in many different settings, online therapy providers, secondary schools and an independent school specialised in trauma.
Engaging this age range in Counselling is especially challenging and there are several reasons for this. Most counselling models are based on treatments that work for adults. These methods are frequently not effective in engaging adolescents because of their developmental immaturity, the stigma many adolescents associate with therapy, and adolescents feeling forced into it.
Engaging young people and establishing a strong alliance require therapists to express empathy and genuineness, utilise developmentally appropriate interventions, address the stigma, and increase choice during the counselling.
Feedback to Parents/Carers
In order to develop trust, it is important to offer young people confidentiality, so I do not give detailed feedback following sessions. However, I offer a meeting with parents/carers approximately every three months from the start of therapy, so to discuss how the intervention is progressing. When we review the sessions, after discussing it with the young person, I will give general feedback about themes that have arisen.
Single Session Therapy (Adults only)
Single Session Therapy (SST), sometimes also known as One-At-A-Time Therapy, is an evidence-based way of working that recognises something many clients already know: meaningful change doesn't always require months of sessions. A single, well-used appointment can make a real and lasting difference.
This approach can be particularly helpful if you:
- Have one specific issue or decision you want to think through
- Feel stuck on something and need a fresh perspective to move forward
- Want to try therapy without committing to an ongoing course of sessions
- Need support quickly, without delay
- Simply prefer to take things one session at a time
The key difference with SST is how quickly you can be seen. Rather than booking an assessment followed by a course of sessions, you can be offered an appointment as soon as possible, sometimes on the same day if a suitable space is available, or ideally the following day. The session itself is approached as complete in its own right, with the full focus on what matters most to you right now.
A single session gives you space to explore the problem, draw on your own strengths and resources, and leave with a clearer sense of direction or a concrete next step. Should you feel that further sessions would be helpful, these remain available, but there is no expectation or pressure to commit beyond the session you have booked.
SST meetings are up to 50 minutes, but it is entirely up to you how long you need. Sometimes less than 50 minutes is enough to achieve what you came for.
This service is available to adult clients only.
How do I work:
My approach to counselling combines Psychodynamic and Person-Centred therapy to create a comprehensive and empowering experience.
Psychodynamic therapy offers valuable insight into how past experiences shape present feelings and behaviours, helping clients understand underlying patterns. At the same time, Person-Centred therapy supports clients in taking ownership of their lives—building the courage and self-esteem needed to face challenges with confidence.
True resilience comes from understanding and navigating difficulties, not just avoiding them. In my work, I help clients learn how to regulate emotions even in the most challenging moments, communicate with clarity, understand relationships and develop the confidence to trust themselves in navigating life’s complexities.
By offering a safe space to explore inner experiences, counselling helps reduce emotional intensity and uncover the underlying emotional needs. This clarity fosters greater self-understanding, supporting growth and resilience.
How to make contact if you want to start counselling:
I provide an initial free phone chat where clients can share their reasons for considering counselling and ask any questions they might have. If they feel comfortable and would like to proceed, we can then schedule an initial assessment session and after that you will be in a position to choose if you wish to commit to a contract.
I understand that reaching out for counselling can feel daunting, but it can also be the beginning of meaningful change. If you are thinking about taking that first step or just want to learn more, I’m here to help. Feel free to contact me by phone, text, or email. I will be glad to connect and explore how we might work together.
Method of Working
I deliver my work in person at "The Bodywork Centre" located at 4 Eastgate, Hexham NE46 1BH and online through Google Meet, WhatsApp and by phone. Please enquire for more details about availability.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
- Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling – The Counselling Foundation, St Albans. BACP accredited
- Place2Be Level 4 in working with Children and Adolescents - Counselling & Psychotherapy Awarding Body (CPCAB) accredited
- The Grove Level 5 Certification in Couples & Relationship Therapy — College of Sexual and Relationship Therapist (CORST) accredited
- Certified Attachment Focussed (AFT) Therapist — Barnardo’s
- Triple P - Primary Care - Qualified provider- University of Queensland, Australia
Trained in the following therapeutic approaches:
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Person-centred Therapy
- Couple Therapy
- Single Session Therapy
- Play Therapy
- Attachment Focussed Therapy.
Experience
- Over 16 years experience as a counsellor with adults and young people in both private and public sector.
- Worked as a Primary & Secondary School counsellor in London for a decade with Place2Be and the Children Society charities
- Worked as a School counsellor for The Open Box Education Center in Epping, a trauma informed and attachment aware independent school for KS4 (year 10/11) students.
- Volunteered for Broxbourne Adult Counselling Centre for over 5 years
- Volunteered for NSPCC/Childline for over 5 years
Where I work at present:
Alongside running my Private Practice, I am a Barnardo’s therapist for the ‘Link Support Service’. This service does provide counselling to people who are facing additional challenges to their emotional well-being as well as those from families affected by relatives with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Additional information
- I am a accredited member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and I comply with their Code of Ethics.
- I hold a current Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate covering both adult and child safeguarding
- As a registered practitioner within the counselling and psychotherapy field I regularly take part in training to maintain, develop and enhance my professional competency.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £80.00
Additional information
Please enquire for fees and availability
Session times:
I see individual clients for 50 minutes sessions once a week.
I see couples/partners for 80 minutes sessions.
However, when suitable I offer a flexible approach so to adapt to clients needs and professional schedules.
When I work
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Further information
Initial Assessment meeting information:
I work in person from the "The Bodywork Centre" located at 4 Eastgate, Hexham NE46 1BH and I work online through Google Meet, WhatsApp and phone.
Firstly, we will arrange a time and day for an assessment. If you then decide that you would like to enter into regular sessions, we will arrange a time and day which is dedicated to you and our work together and I will invite you to commit to a contract.
I offer open ended or short term Counselling.
For young people, a similar process will take place and the assessment with the Parents/Carers and will focus on the young person. Together we will discuss the present situation and the Y.P. background. The presence of the young person is not needed during the initial meeting.
If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to arrange an initial consultation, please feel free to contact me by email: rckcounselling@gmail.com or phone: 0781 7565837 or simply use the email button on this page. If I can't be reached immediately, I will get back to you as soon as I can.
