Richard Whitenstall
Experienced counsellor focused on practical change
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About Richard
Richard Whitenstall is a counsellor with 11 years of experience. He founded Get There Counselling in 2021 and has worked internationally since 2023. He uses a client-centred, empowering way of working that focuses on practical steps and individual pace.
He began his counselling journey in 2013 with placements at Hampshire charities No Limits and Cruse. Between 2017 and 2019 he set up and ran a counselling service for the London charity Positive21.
Background and approach
He has also worked as a project worker supporting LGBT young people at risk of sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, and neglect. Richard co-authored Strength to Talk, a book about men’s mental health, with proceeds supporting the charity Mind. He has presented to mental health professionals, including a talk at the CAMHS County Forum in 2014 about risks facing LGBT youth.
These roles helped shape his practical, down-to-earth approach. In sessions he favours clear goals and small steps. Conversations focus on what a person wants to change, what can be accepted, and how to move forward.
He draws on approaches such as Client-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy to match what feels useful to the person. Richard works on a wide range of concerns including anxiety, stress, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, sexuality and gender questions, addictions, grief, and ADHD.
He also supports people with chronic pain, communication problems, and challenges around polyamory and kink culture. If you are unsure whether he is a good fit, use the Start Therapy button to complete a short questionnaire and arrange an initial meeting.
At a glance
- Years practising
- 11
- Registered with
- BACP
- Registration number
- 191764
- Languages
- English
- Approaches include
- Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy
- How sessions happen
- Online, by video, phone or messages
Details are as listed on Richard's public professional profile. You can check any number with the professional body.
What Richard works with
Everything Richard lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- ADHD
- Attachment issues
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family problems
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Men's issues
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-harm
- Sex addiction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Richard lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
How Richard works online
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions link together. It uses practical exercises and small experiments to reduce anxiety, manage low mood, and change unhelpful habits.
Solution-Focused Therapy aims to identify small, achievable steps toward a preferred future. It works well when a person wants quick, focused progress on specific problems.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Richard will discuss which methods seem most helpful and adapt sessions to the individual's aims and preferences. This is a collaborative process and can change as needs evolve.
Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions into everyday life by reducing travel time and allowing appointments around work or other commitments. Confirm the actual session formats before booking, since options are not listed here. Many people find online sessions useful for shorter check-ins, longer weekly therapy, or when they want to join from a quieter setting without being on camera.
Questions and answers
What concerns can Richard help with?
He works with a wide range of issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, relationship and intimacy matters, addictions, grief, ADHD, and gender and sexuality questions.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
His style is client-centred and practical, focusing on small steps and clear goals that fit each person’s pace and needs.
What background does he bring to sessions?
He has worked in charities and ran a counselling service for Positive21, and has experience supporting LGBT young people at risk of exploitation and abuse.
What are his professional credentials and location?
He is registered with the BACP and practices in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with him if I live outside the UK?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Please confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
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