About me
My name is Rich and I support clients feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed find a calmer, hopeful and more balanced way to move forward in their lives using a blend of Eastern and Western approaches. Many of the people I work with look like they’re coping, but inside they feel stuck, exhausted, down and on edge.
Do you have anxiety, depression or low mood? Have you lost someone close to you or feel burnt out or stuck? Struggle with your relationships? Constantly overthink? Feel that life has lost its meaning or sense of purpose and direction? If so then I am here to help and support you.
What's Different About my Approach?
Drawing on my training in counselling and over thirty years practicing meditation and mindfulness, my approach is unusual because it is a blend of Ancient Eastern and Modern Western psychology and perspectives. This experience gives me an additional range of tried and tested models, ideas, tools and techniques which I can tailor to support your specific situation. Underpinning this is my naturally kind, accepting and gentle nature that allows me to be myself, become immersed in your unique situation and challenges, and give you the opportunity to share your troubles knowing you will not be judged. Having practiced Yoga, meditation and mindfulness for thirty years, I literally 'walk the talk' and only offer approaches which I have personally found beneficial, meaningful and transformative in my own life.
Types of Therapy
I offer
- walk and talk therapy using a variety of beautiful routes with breath-taking and uplifting views of the countryside in North Dorset
- face to face sessions in my counselling room at Shillingstone Wellness
- online sessions
If you are interested in working together, please find more detailed information about me, my style of counselling and how to arrange a free no obligation consultation, at www.eastwestrich.com.
How I Help
By being honest, kind and genuinely myself, I hope you will experience the trust and confidence you feel with a very close friend, but with all the boundaries, safety and experience provided by my training in counselling and therapy, and my years of Mindfulness and Meditation practice. As well as listening deeply to your story, I will offer you the models, meditation and mindfulness tools, strategies and insights you need to get back on your feet and regain control of your life.
The resources that I draw upon are a blend of the latest Western psychological models and thinking on relationships, loss and Self Compassion, combined with Ancient wisdom on Meditation and Mindfulness strongly influenced by the Buddhist and Yoga traditions.
How Long Will It Take to Feel Better?
Therapy isn’t a quick fix, but most people feel lighter once they’ve shared what they’ve been carrying. Some find a few sessions are enough to get back on track, while others choose longer‑term work to deepen their understanding and maintain momentum. With clients in crisis, I can offer immediate tools that can have substantial positive effects within days.
Common Issues I Work With
I regularly support clients experiencing:
- Low mood and depression
- Anxiety, rumination, and overthinking
- Emotional numbness
- Compulsive behaviours such as drinking or porn use
- Difficulty expressing emotions
- Loss of direction or purpose
- Relationship or family challenges
- Trauma from past or recent experiences
- Pressure to meet expectations from others
- Loneliness or emotional disconnection
- Grief and loss
- Challenges related to neurodiversity such as ADHD or autism
- Intimacy or trust difficulties
- Low self‑esteem or confidence
- Resistance to seeking help even when something needs to change
My Theoretical Grounding
As an integrative, person‑centred counsellor, I work gently and collaboratively. I draw on approaches such as Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness‑Based Cognitive Therapy and Self‑Compassion practices. All of my work is informed and supported by an up to date understanding of neuroscience and polyvagal theory. Underpinning these Western approaches is my lifelong interest in Yoga and Buddhist practice and philosophy.
If mindfulness interests you, I can help you develop a calmer, more grounded way of relating to your thoughts and emotions, letting go of rumination, easing future worries, and reconnecting with the simple, meaningful moments of daily life. Meditation can also offer methods that are over 2,500 years old that cultivate and grow positive mind states such as joy and compassion in a systematic, tried and tested way.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a fully qualified counsellor following three and a half years of training at the Heartwood Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling at Dartington College in Devon.
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), adhering closely to their ethical standards.
Additionally, I am a British Wheel of Yoga certified teacher (BWYdip) and have practised mindfulness for over thirty years, which deeply informs my approach to counselling and well-being.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I also offer limited spaces for clients on a low income; please feel free to ask if you'd like more information.
When I work
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Further information
Starting Therapy
I offer a free twenty minute phone call so I can explain a little about how I work, you can ask some questions and we can see if we are a good match for each other as client and therapist. You will have the chance to explain what you are looking for from therapy, and I will explain what I have to offer and how I can help.
During our first session, we will begin by talking through our counselling contract together making sure that we both understand how to work safely, particularly in the area of confidentiality. We will then spend time getting to know each other further, beginning to explore the issues that have brought you to counselling. As we talk, I will start to form in my mind some ideas for how I can support you in your healing journey, which I will tentatively share with you at the end of our first session.
Moving Forward
Before our second session, I will spend time reflecting further on your distress and the issues you wish to work on, so that we can begin our second session by clarifying what we want to achieve and how we can begin our work.
At the beginning, the therapy tends to run more smoothly if you can attend weekly. However, as our work evolves you may find that a session every two weeks or even monthly becomes sufficient to allow your healing journey to continue.
Occasionally, we may agree tasks or ideas for you to explore between sessions to help accelerate your healing process.
Reviewing Progress and Ending
I normally work in blocks of roughly six sessions, at which point we can spend some time reviewing the progress we have made and deciding on what issues to focus on next.
My goal in our time together will be to help you to put in place the conditions and tools that you need to heal yourself. Once you feel you are ready to move on without me, we can draw therapy to a close in a way that is safe, empowering and fulfilling for both us as we move onto the next stage in our journeys.
