Mischa Richards

I am an accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor, offering therapy to individual adults with a range of emotional, psychological, interpersonal and behavioural issues.

I have been practicing psychotherapy for over seven years and providing wider therapeutic support for children, young persons and adults for over fifteen years.

My background lies in the charity, education and social care sectors. Working within some of the most diverse and deprived communities within the UK has enabled me to gain insight into the many ways that social and cultural factors shape our psychological selves. I am empathic to the unique ways we suffer and, from experience, understand how these struggles can become the start of a process serving new growth and freedom.

I bring the experience gained from my previous work and research to inform my way of working therapeutically, upholding the principles of inclusion, equality and safeguarding.

I am a professional member of the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC), and also a clinical member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Psychoanalytical Council (BPC).

I hold a PGDip in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy & Counselling (University of Roehampton), a MA in Applied Theology (University of Oxford), and a BA in Theology & Religion (University of Durham).

I abide by the ethical code and professional standards of these organisations, including client confidentiality, and am committed to ongoing professional development. This is reflected in my current trainings which include: the Post-Foundation Course with the Institute of Psychoanalysis (IoPA) and the MA in the Philosophy of Medicine & Psychiatry with King’s College London (KCL).

I offer both fixed/ short-term and open-ended psychotherapy and counselling to individual adults.

I offer both of these services in different forms: either in-person, online or telephone.

My approach is informed by psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic ideas about how the mind/ self develops and processes experience. I understand one's present struggles and suffering as an expression of underlying and broader issues related to our identity, wider life and history. Often these connections between the parts of our selves can be hidden or unconscious; it is my privilege to help you to discover the meaning and to understand the unique reasons for your difficulties so that you regain the freedom and choice to move forwards in your life.

As a form of 'talking therapy' I will offer you a safe and containing space to talk openly, without fear of judgement or censorship. I view you as the 'expert in the room' and my role as the one to help you to hear and discover in yourself the answers and resources needed to regain control and/ or purpose. I will bring my training and professional curiosity to this process, drawing attention to details and possible connections that may not have been considered before. Memories of your childhood and earlier life, your feelings around significant relationships, fantasies and dreams all have a place within this approach as they offer insight into the deeper parts of ourselves where the root-causes of our behaviour lie.

Since our present difficulties are often connected to past relationships and are re-enacted in our current relationships, I view the client-therapist relationship as an important aspect of the process. I will offer you a confidential, professional and boundaried space in which these patterns of behaviour can be re-experienced and made available for new understanding and processing.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is an evidence-based treatment that has been proven to support deep-seated and long-term change.

If you are approaching counselling or psychotherapy for the first time, this can be a daunting process. I am sensitive to the barriers and concerns around beginning this step and offer a warm welcome and contained space.

You will understandably be considering whether I might feel like a 'good fit' and so I make this a part of the first session, in which you have an opportunity for a 'trial experience' whilst sharing your story and getting a chance to ask any questions you may have. We can then also discuss the practicalities around how we will work together, regarding session frequency, timings and costings. 

Whilst this may sound already like a lot, I am committed to giving you the space to bring your struggles; much of the rest can be revisited as we enter into the process together.

I am an accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor, offering therapy to individual adults with a range of emotional, psychological, interpersonal and behavioural issues.

I have been practicing psychotherapy for over seven years and providing wider therapeutic support for children, young persons and adults for over fifteen years.

My background lies in the charity, education and social care sectors. Working within some of the most diverse and deprived communities within the UK has enabled me to gain insight into the many ways that social and cultural factors shape our psychological selves. I am empathic to the unique ways we suffer and, from experience, understand how these struggles can become the start of a process serving new growth and freedom.

I bring the experience gained from my previous work and research to inform my way of working therapeutically, upholding the principles of inclusion, equality and safeguarding.

I am a professional member of the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC), and also a clinical member of both the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Psychoanalytical Council (BPC).

I hold a PGDip in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy & Counselling (University of Roehampton), a MA in Applied Theology (University of Oxford), and a BA in Theology & Religion (University of Durham).

I abide by the ethical code and professional standards of these organisations, including client confidentiality, and am committed to ongoing professional development. This is reflected in my current trainings which include: the Post-Foundation Course with the Institute of Psychoanalysis (IoPA) and the MA in the Philosophy of Medicine & Psychiatry with King’s College London (KCL).

I offer both fixed/ short-term and open-ended psychotherapy and counselling to individual adults.

I offer both of these services in different forms: either in-person, online or telephone.

My approach is informed by psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic ideas about how the mind/ self develops and processes experience. I understand one's present struggles and suffering as an expression of underlying and broader issues related to our identity, wider life and history. Often these connections between the parts of our selves can be hidden or unconscious; it is my privilege to help you to discover the meaning and to understand the unique reasons for your difficulties so that you regain the freedom and choice to move forwards in your life.

As a form of 'talking therapy' I will offer you a safe and containing space to talk openly, without fear of judgement or censorship. I view you as the 'expert in the room' and my role as the one to help you to hear and discover in yourself the answers and resources needed to regain control and/ or purpose. I will bring my training and professional curiosity to this process, drawing attention to details and possible connections that may not have been considered before. Memories of your childhood and earlier life, your feelings around significant relationships, fantasies and dreams all have a place within this approach as they offer insight into the deeper parts of ourselves where the root-causes of our behaviour lie.

Since our present difficulties are often connected to past relationships and are re-enacted in our current relationships, I view the client-therapist relationship as an important aspect of the process. I will offer you a confidential, professional and boundaried space in which these patterns of behaviour can be re-experienced and made available for new understanding and processing.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is an evidence-based treatment that has been proven to support deep-seated and long-term change. 

If you are approaching counselling or psychotherapy for the first time, this can be a daunting process. I am sensitive to the barriers and concerns around beginning this step and offer a warm welcome and contained space.

You will understandably be considering whether I might feel like a 'good fit' and so I make this a part of the first session, in which you have an opportunity for a 'trial experience' whilst sharing your story and getting a chance to ask any questions you may have. We can then also discuss the practicalities around how we will work together, regarding session frequency, timings and costings.

Whilst this may sound already like a lot, I am committed to giving you the space to bring your struggles; much of the rest can be revisited as we enter into the process together.