About me - Experienced Counsellor in Stroud, Gloucestershire

Kim Richardson - working for clients in Stroud and across Gloucestershire

I am a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). I am also accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I qualified with a full Diploma in Counselling in 2000 and a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT in 2011. I have broad experience of a range of different issues and needs.

My Man2Man service focuses on counselling for men. I also counsel women who prefer to see a male counsellor.

Alongside my private practice, I am a counsellor with the Meningitis Trust, an affiliate counsellor with several employee assistance programmes, and a confidence coach. I have been a telephone counsellor for the nationwide Talk to a Counsellor service, and until recently I was a senior counsellor and tutor at the Gloucestershire Counselling Service in Stroud.

Accredited therapists have specialist skills and knowledge, as they have undergone relevant training and supervision. Accreditation also means the therapists adhere to the standards of conduct, performance and ethics of the professional bodies with whom they are accredited.

Skills and training

I have been trained in a wide range of different counselling methods, including:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). A hugely effective therapeutic method that addresses the negative thought patterns that usually underlie stress, anxiety and low self-esteem. My CBT practice includes Mindfulness-based approaches (For more information about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy click here.)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). A Mindfulness-based version of CBT which teaches you a set of skills so that you can handle painful thoughts and feelings in the service of focusing your energies on living your life as you really want to - following your values.
Psychodynamic Counselling. A way of understanding the powerful role of the unconscious in our lives, and how we develop defences that can hold us back from achieving our full potential.
Stress Management. A multi-modal cognitive-behavioural approach to the nature of stress, its management and prevention.
Assertiveness and Communication Skills. Understanding how we can communicate to maximise our outcomes and maintain our self-respect.
Solution Focused Therapy. How to create positive thinking strategies – focusing on the solution rather than the problem can often open the door to change.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). A model for improving performance, becoming an excellent communicator and undergoing personal change.

How I work

I work in different ways, depending on your needs, time-scale and personality.

It may be that you want to focus on a particular issue, and you are willing to work hard on specific goals. I would recommend we use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). A lot can be achieved with short-term and medium-term counselling (6-20 sessions) using CBT or ACT.
It may be that you want some time and space to explore an issue, or a range of issues, in greater depth. You may not even have any distressing symptoms, but want to explore your past. That also is fine. Longer-term psychodynamic counselling would suit you best.
Perhaps you don't even know what you want, but talking about it will clarify where you are. That's fine too! We can explore your needs in the first session.

I see my task as actively listening to your issues and concerns and then facilitating the most effective way forward, using your own skills and resources. I believe passionately that you have the power to get back on top of your life; together we work out the way.

For further information about how I work, click here.

Contact me

If you would like to make an appointment, or ask me for further details, please call 01453 751457 or email kim@stroudcounselling.net in strictest confidence.

Kim Richardson - working for clients in Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham and across Gloucestershire