Deciding to have therapy can bring up a whirlwind of emotions and the thought of opening up to a virtual stranger can understandably feel daunting or overwhelming. With this in mind, I’d like to acknowledge and commend you for taking a huge first step in your journey towards making a change in your life. About me & my practice My name is Ricquel (pronounced Rick-Elle) and I’m an integrative-relational psychotherapist offering short-term counselling to support clients suffering from specific issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as long-term psychotherapy for those on a journey towards self-exploration and personal growth. In addition to my private practice, I am an experienced Rape Crisis Counsellor, and can also offer specialist counselling for survivors of sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse.   My integrative-relational approach to counselling integrates being person-centred with psychodynamic theory, which means I will be led by you about what to focus on in therapy, yet will also seek to explore how your current difficulties may have been influenced by your past and relationships. Every person is different, so my therapeutic style incorporates different counselling approaches and techniques in our work together, such as mindfulness for example, if it feels as though this might be beneficial for you. How I work with clients The most important thing to me in therapy is creating a safe, non-judgemental space for you to feel seen and heard, where you can talk through your issues and explore what might be causing them. I do not give advice or tell you what to do, my aim is to build a trusting, respectful therapeutic relationship with you, where you feel supported to find your own solutions on how to heal, move forward and create meaningful change in your life. My role is to stay alongside you in your process offering warmth and empathy, enabling you to connect with your emotions, deepen your self-awareness and identify any emotional wounds that are impacting your current life and relationships. In doing so I hope to assist you in reconnecting with your wants and needs, so you can feel content, confident and live as your authentic self. I believe that we are all diverse individuals whose lives and issues are influenced by varied experiences and intersections, based on; background, culture, ethnic identity, gender identity, sexuality, disability etc. My therapeutic approach values difference and acknowledges that each client has their own unique needs and experiences of the world, and I welcome you to bring your whole self into therapy.