Vanessa Richards – NHS Counselling Manager

Vanessa Richards is the NHS Counselling Manager at The Awareness Centre with a Master’s degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and a postgraduate qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy. She is trained in Trauma-Informed CBT, CBT, humanistic, and psychodynamic approaches, and works relationally with individuals, couples, and groups across the lifespan.

With over ten years of experience in the NHS, Vanessa has worked extensively in diverse and specialist services. Her clinical background includes CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), supporting children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs; perinatal mental-health services, working therapeutically with parents during pregnancy and early parenthood; Macmillan services, providing psychological support to individuals and families affected by cancer; and crisis-line services, offering immediate emotional support to those experiencing acute distress. Vanessa has worked with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults, and brings depth, warmth, and clinical expertise to her practice. Her integrative framework allows her to tailor therapy to each client’s unique context, combining evidence-based models with systemic understanding and psychodynamic insight. She offers face-to-face, remote, and telephone sessions to ensure accessible and flexible support. Alongside her clinical work, Vanessa is an international speaker and author. She delivers seminars, teaching sessions, and workshops, and provides mentoring and coaching to professionals and organisations. Her commitment to innovation, leadership, and excellence in therapeutic practice has been formally recognised by the University of Roehampton, where she was awarded the 2025 Alumni Inspiration and Innovation Award.

Vanessa remains dedicated to empowering individuals, strengthening relationships, and contributing meaningfully to the advancement of psychological wellbeing both within clinical settings and through professional education and leadership.