Richard Oster
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a BACP registered therapist offering counselling and psychotherapy, face-to-face in Exeter or online wherever you are.
Life can be both beautiful and bleak, calm and stormy. Pain and suffering are inevitable parts of the human experience, and when these challenges arise, it’s not always possible to face them alone. As social beings, many of our struggles emerge from our interactions and experiences with others. Yet, with the right support, human connection has the power to bring about healing and growth.
I will meet you wherever you are on your journey, providing a non-judgmental space to safely explore your inner world. Together, we'll cultivate curiosity, listening to parts of yourself that may have been ignored or resisted. While the therapeutic journey is not always comfortable, it holds the potential for deep, lasting change.
My Approach
I am an integrative therapist, drawing on a broad range of therapeutic approaches. My work is informed by Internal Family Systems, Existentialism and Person-Centred Therapy, and is grounded in neuroscience. This diverse training has allowed me to develop a cohesive approach to counselling that weaves together the strengths of multiple modalities.
My therapeutic process follows a three-phase framework that I tailor to each client:
Connecting: Establishing a safe and supportive environment, where trust and a strong therapeutic relationship can flourish.
Exploring: Together, we examine the different parts that make up the whole person, including past experiences and present-moment reactions. This phase is about cultivating curiosity and expanding self-awareness.
Integrating: We experiment both in the therapy room and in real-life situations to test new strategies and build skills. The goal is to move towards greater acceptance and a sense of wholeness.
This structured yet flexible approach allows us to journey through the complexities of the human experience with compassion and clarity.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified, integrative therapist. I trained at the Iron Mill College in Exeter which is “a well-established, leading provider of education and training in mental health and wellbeing”.
Formal Qualifications:
- BSc Hons (Chichester University)
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Accredited by the BACP)
- Certificate in Counselling (Accredited by the National Counselling Society, NCS)
- Counselling Young People Stage 1 (BACP Accredited)
My ongoing professional development and training include regular involvement in workshops, seminars and academic study.
Recent CPD has included:
- Master Class in Internal Family Systems Therapy - PESI
- Working with Complex Trauma - Iron Mill College
- Youth Mental Health First Aid - MHFA England
- Understanding Domestic Violence and Abuse Levels 1 & 2 - AVA
- Moving Your Practice Online - Online Therapy Institute
- Existential Therapy Workshop - Mick Cooper
- Working with Shame - Iron Mill College
- Bereavement Training - CHUMS
- Working with Trauma - Carolyn Spring
Experience:
I bring a wealth of life experience to my work, rooted in over a decade spent in the charity sector. During that time, I had the privilege of working with a diverse range of individuals across various settings—mentoring young people in schools, facilitating bereavement support groups, and providing pastoral care to adults. These experiences exposed me to the complexities of the human condition: grief, trauma, loss, addiction, depression, anxiety, and more. It deepened my empathy, honed my ability to connect with others, and clarified my desire to work with people on a deeper level.
As a therapist, I’ve had the opportunity to work with clients from all walks of life, each with their own unique stories and challenges. Every client’s journey has expanded my understanding of the many issues people face, reinforcing my commitment to providing compassionate, individualised care. Before transitioning to full-time private practice, I spent three years with a trauma recovery charity in Exeter, where I provided therapy to survivors of domestic abuse. This work was both humbling and inspiring, revealing the remarkable resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Today, I work with a broad range of presenting issues. I believe that people don’t fit neatly into predefined categories. While labels can sometimes help guide support, they can also restrict how we see ourselves and each other. My approach is intentionally flexible and person-centred, committed to meeting each individual exactly where they are, regardless of the challenges they face.
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
£55.00 - £75.00
Free initial in-person or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer counselling and psychotherapy on a long-term, open-ended and shorter, fixed-term basis to individual adults.
Sessions are 50 minutes long and normally held weekly.
My fee is tailored to your financial situation, which we can discuss during the initial consultation. My standard range is £55–£75.
When I work
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Further information
My therapy room is in central Exeter at 4 Barnfield Crescent. There are plenty of local car parks close by and it is a short walk from the train and bus stations.
I also offer online video sessions via zoom.
For more information visit my website at spacebetweentherapy.com or get in touch.
