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At present, I have availability on Monday 9-7, Wednesday late afternoon and evening, Thursday 9-6 and Friday 9-6 and some evenings. 

My name is Rich and I support clients feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed find a calmer, hopeful  and more balanced way to move forward in their lives.  Many of the people I work with look like they’re coping, but inside they feel stuck, exhausted, down and constantly on edge.

Do you have anxiety, depression or low mood? Have you lost someone close to you or feel burnt out or stuck?  Struggle with your relationships?  Constantly overthink?   Feel that life has lost its meaning or sense of purpose and direction? If so then I am here to help and support you.

What's Different About my Approach?

Drawing on my training in counselling and over thirty years practicing meditation and mindfulness, my approach is unusual because it is a blend of Ancient Eastern and Modern Western psychology and perspectives.  This experience gives me an additional range of tried and tested models, ideas, tools and techniques which I can tailor to support your specific situation.  Underpinning this is my naturally kind, accepting and gentle nature that allows me to be myself, become immersed in your unique situation and challenges, and give you the opportunity to share your troubles knowing you will not be judged.  Having practiced Yoga, meditation and mindfulness for thirty years, I literally 'walk the talk' and only offer approaches which I have personally found beneficial, meaningful and transformative in my own life.

Types of Therapy

I offer

• walk and talk therapy using a variety of beautiful routes with breath-taking and uplifting views of the countryside in North Dorset
• face to face sessions in my counselling room at Shillingstone Wellness
• online sessions

If you are interested in working together, please find more detailed information about me, my style of counselling and how to arrange a free no obligation consultation, at www.eastwestrich.com.  

How I Help

By being honest, kind and genuinely myself, I hope you will experience the trust and confidence you feel with a very close friend, but with all the boundaries, safety and experience provided by my training in counselling and therapy, and my years of Mindfulness and Meditation practice.  As well as listening deeply to your story, I will offer you the models, meditation and mindfulness tools, strategies and insights you need to get back on your feet and regain control of your life.

The resources that I draw upon are a blend of the latest Western psychological models and thinking on relationships, loss and Self Compassion, combined with Ancient wisdom on Meditation and Mindfulness strongly influenced by the Buddhist and Yoga traditions.

How Long Will It Take to Feel Better?

Therapy isn’t a quick fix, but most people feel lighter once they’ve shared what they’ve been carrying. Some find a few sessions are enough to get back on track, while others choose longer‑term work to deepen their understanding and maintain momentum.  With clients in crisis, I can offer immediate tools that can have substantial positive effects within days.

Common Issues I Work With

• I regularly support clients experiencing:
• Low mood and depression
• Anxiety, rumination, and overthinking
• Emotional numbness
• Compulsive behaviours such as drinking or porn use
• Difficulty expressing emotions
• Loss of direction or purpose
• Relationship or family challenges
• Trauma from past or recent experiences
• Pressure to meet expectations from others
• Loneliness or emotional disconnection
• Grief and loss
• Challenges related to neurodiversity such as ADHD or autism
• Intimacy or trust difficulties
• Low self‑esteem or confidence
• Resistance to seeking help even when something needs to change

Please reach out for a a free no obligation consultation, at www.eastwestrich.com during which I will be able to answer all of your questions and we can see if we will make a good match as client and therapist.

At present, I have availability on Monday, Thursday and Friday 9-6 and some evenings. 

My name is Rich and I am a counsellor who specialises in supporting men with their mental health. I work with men who feel overwhelmed and stressed out by multiple issues and feel stuck, dissatisfied and directionless.

Do you have anxiety, depression or low mood? Feel burnt out or stuck?

Struggle with your relationships? Constantly overthink?

You may...

​- have a mind that's always racing and cannot find any peace?

- have so many troubles that you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start?

- lack a sense of purpose and feel stuck and disillusioned?

- have circumstances so heavy on your shoulders, that you feel weighed down and low?

- feel like you’ve lost your sense of identity and no longer know who you are?

- feel fed up and tired in your relationships, but don't know how to change?

If any of your answers are yes, then I'm here to support you.

How can I help?

I'll give you all the time you need to explain in depth how you feel and what is causing you your distress. This will be a chance to get everything off your chest. We can focus on your unhealthy habits, relationships and thoughts to understand what keeps you stuck in the same old groove. Together we can find new ways of seeing the world, give you ideas for responding differently to life’s challenges and we can reset your sense of direction and purpose.

When will I feel better?

Therapy is not a quick fix, and lasting change takes time. However, most men report feeling a sense of relief after the first session or two, just by knowing they have someone rooting for them and a place where they can share their troubles without being judged.

No two clients are the same. For some clients just a few sessions will be enough to resolve their issues. 

Either way, as you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, you’ll respond to challenges with greater ease and confidence. Situations that once felt overwhelming will become manageable, and your relationships will feel more harmonious. 

How do I work with clients?

My approach is simple - by being honest, kind and genuinely myself, I hope you will experience the trust and confidence you feel with a very close friend, but with all the boundaries, safety and experience provided by my training in counselling and therapy. As well as listening deeply to your story, I will offer you the support, tools, strategies and insights you need to get back on your feet and regain control of your life.

What happens in a session?

Sessions last 50 minutes. We usually start by briefly reviewing the previous week and deciding what feels most important to focus on today.

You can talk as much or as little as you want about whatever’s on your mind — there’s no pressure to perform or explain things perfectly. My role is to listen closely, ask useful questions, and sometimes reflect back things I’ve noticed, including patterns or links with earlier sessions that might be worth paying attention to. 

Towards the end, we check that we’ve covered what you wanted to, note what’s been useful, and, if appropriate, agree on anything practical that might help between sessions or carry something forward to next time.  If it’s helpful, we may slow things down briefly to help you think more clearly or steady yourself when things feel tense.

Starting Therapy

I offer a free twenty minute phone call so I can explain a little about how I work, you can ask some questions and we can see if we are a good match for each other as client and therapist. You will have the chance to explain what you are looking for from therapy, and I will explain what I have to offer and how I can help.

After you have contacted me, I'll get back to you as soon as possible by e-mail offering you times for this first no obligation call and you can let me know what suits you.

During our first session, we will begin by talking through our counselling contract together making sure that we both understand how to work safely, particularly in the area of confidentiality. 

Why should men come to therapy?

Coming to therapy as a man can be a particularly difficult step to take. We tend to grow up unconsciously absorbing the message that being strong means that we should not express our emotions, that we should be self-contained and push through challenges using determination and grit. Asking for help can feel like admitting defeat rather than taking care of oneself.

Therapy is a different kind of space

Yet once you move through these initial hesitations, I hope that you will discover that the space is not like the one you had imagined. Instead of judgment, there’s room to breathe. Instead of pressure to perform, there’s an opportunity to understand yourself better—and often a quiet recognition that vulnerability isn’t a weakness at all, but a doorway into a steadier, more grounded way of living.

My aim is always to offer a calm, steady presence — a place where you can explore what’s unfolding in your life with curiosity, kindness and a renewed sense of possibility. 

With a clearer sense of who you are and where you want to go, you’ll stand firmly in your values and move confidently forward with purpose.