Counselling in Whitstable, Kent & Online

Everyone deserves a chance to be happier

Welcome to Richard Kendall Counselling

About Me

Hello my name is Richard and first off, thank you for taking the time to visit and read through my website in what can seem a long overwhelming list of counsellors. I am a qualified counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This means I work to their ethical framework and standards keeping clients at the forefront of our work, ensuring a safe space for you to feel not only welcome but able to voice your fears and concerns. I also hold a clean DBS check certificate.

I was once asked what sort of counsellor am I? My response was heartfelt and genuine when I simply replied, "I am a counsellor of people”. I have a passion for life and for people and was one of the factors that drew me to training to become a counsellor.

I believe there are times in our lives where we will struggle and events occur which are stressful and throw us off balance leaving us feeling lost, alone and dejected. Therefore my aim is to assist people finding themselves again through mental support, trust and positive interventions during our time working together.

It is my personal view that everyone deserves the right to live a happy content life. Through therapy I believe this can be achieved when together we can shine a light on those confusing possibly frightening areas of your life and start to piece together those parts for greater understanding, confidence and self-awareness.

I work with Adults, Older adults, Young people 18+ and Trainees, with a Neurodiversity Affirming Approach

My Approach

As a qualified integrated therapist I use a Pluralistic Approach working with various theoretical models to best suit your needs. We are all unique with individual personalities and traits so I believe this can help solidify the impact that coming to counselling can have for you. I would describe my practice base as predominantly Transactional Analysis (TA) with an underpinning of Person-Centred Therapy. To help explore how our interactions with people can be affecting our quality of life. With the aim here, to improve our understanding and relationships we have with others and ourselves.

Using a mixture of active listening and some open questions to identify underlying behaviours and personality traits affecting your everyday life. We can look to work together to help change the parts you are unhappy with and want to change in becoming more self-assured and confident within yourself. Experience has shown me this combination works with unlocking trapped emotions and allows for confidence for defences to be lowered to enable people to safely move forward in their lives.

Counselling is not giving advice or instruction on what to do, it is about feeling seen and helping you discover your true inner beliefs to assist in empowering you to make better informed choices that you want with confidence.

I am a firm believer in the idea that ‘Awareness is Key’ in understanding ourselves, so along the way if suitable. I might use therapeutic interventions or some psychoeducation to help you discover and make sense of things that are bothering you and possibly see reasons why you might be letting them. Everything we do will be in service of you, where, as my client, I put your welfare first and work to support you with the utmost respect. I also have specific trauma informed training and an interest in helping people process their traumas and underlying pain to help them start to feel capable to move on and be able to live a happier content everyday life.

Trust to me is instrumental in building the foundations in relationships. This is no different in a therapeutic relationship. My practice is to give you *autonomy* while I listen to your needs with empathy and care which from here I hope we can start to build a connection and move at your pace as we build trust in our relationship.

People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:

ADD / ADHD

Anxiety

Child related issues

Confidence issues

Depression

Domestic abuse

Emotional abuse

Non-fatal loss

Men's issues

Neurodiversity

Personal development

Relational trauma

Relationship difficulties

Shame

Stress

Self-esteem

Sexual Abuse

Work related issues

Why Counselling?

Sometimes whether we like to admit it or not, life can be hard and although we might feel we are ok and on top of ‘our stuff’. In reality we are not and can sometimes struggle to cope but we are too scared to say. I offer you an opportunity for you to be whoever you want to be without a need to conform to other people’s needs. I see therapy as your time to talk and focus on you and what you need in life.

A Safe Space

I offer a chance for autonomy in a relaxed non-judgemental space for you to explore your thoughts and emotions, either past or present to give strength and hope that change is possible.

First Steps

Making the decision to come to counselling can be a daunting and a difficult step to make. I understand that choosing the right counsellor for you can be just as hard. I aim to provide you with a chance for you to feel safe while listened to as we work together at your pace and comfort.

Contact Me

Please feel free to contact me for further information if required. I offer an initial free 15-20 minute telephone call to get to you know you a little, understand what you are looking for through counselling and whether you feel comfortable with me to continue on.

You can also call me on 07368 880530 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first? I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.

Location & Sessions

I offer online therapy through Microsoft Teams. Do not worry if you do not have the app. It will work through the invite weblink. I can provide flexibility so sessions to fit around your life and schedule. We can work together through either long-term or short-term sessions. An additional option is for Single Session Therapy for those moments if there is something you believe you just need to get out in the open and tell a professional stranger.

I also offer a Walk and Talk style therapy. I feel there is something special we unknowingly neglect and that is the power of being in nature. Options for routes include walks along Whitstable Seafront for a coastal scene or woodland walks around Clowes Woods or more open but still secluded walks around Duncan Downs in the heart of Whitstable. Here, we can look to explore as we talk. If you are willing brave the elements then so am I.

Fees & Availability

The counselling sessions are 50 minutes in duration and charged at £50. This can be paid in advance or on the day by bank transfer for online sessions. Face to face or walk and talk sessions have the option for either bank transfer or cash on the day whichever you prefer.

Cancellations require 24 hour notice or fee may still be required.

I can offer a varying schedule for sessions either face to face and online therapy. I work from a purpose built, private and secluded counselling room at 81a Northwood Road CT5 2HD.

Monday: In person therapy 17:00 – 20:00.
Wednesday and Thursdays: 16:00 to 20:00 online via Microsoft Teams.
Saturdays: 10:00 to 15:00 This is the main option for Walk and Talk face to face therapy if desirable. Though online is an option

Frequently Asked Questions

Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions. Over a certain number of weeks the understanding of the problem improves and away forward becomes clear. Therapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a long-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.

Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling works well as an ongoing, longer-term option - or therapy can manage to resolve an issue in just a few sessions.

How long a period of counselling lasts can vary from person to person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. For some people, a few sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward. Other problems may require a period of 6 to 12 session or more of an open-ended approach to cover what is needed.

Before we begin any work we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number, review our progress. As long as we both agree further therapy will be of benefit to you, sessions can continue.

My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment, within a week. Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availability. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availability of that free ‘slot’.

Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.

Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, and there the law requires that I notify an authority; in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.