Dr Stella Richardson Msc PsyD CPsychol

Experienced and compassionate practice informs how I run sessions—gentle but purposeful, with assessment and therapy paced around what feels manageable. Working from York and online in English, I hold focused individual meetings that blend evidence-based techniques with careful listening, and we track progress between sessions using agreed tasks or reflections. For trauma, eating distress or OCD this often means stabilising distress first, then building skills and understanding at a steady, collaborative pace. People seeking thoughtful, pragmatic support tend to find this way of working helpful.

How I understand psychological suffering

We are all born with basic human needs for love, care and safety. We are also born with very complicated brains that can produce suffering through no fault of our own. No-one has a perfect experience of life nor receives perfect care or support. Humans are amazingly creative at adapting to our less-than-perfect world. However, we may be carrying around unhelpful beliefs about ourselves hidden psychological injuries that even we ourselves aren’t fully aware of. When we go through a change or transition or when stress starts accumulating, things may reach a tipping point and our coping resources feel over-stretched and overwhelmed. We may no longer feel able to cope, may not feel like our usual selves, and we may lose our sense of purpose and meaning. At these times, professional therapy can be of great benefit. Sometimes we benefit from being coached in learning new coping mechanisms. Sometimes, simply understanding better what is causing and maintaining the psychological distress can bring great relief.

How often will we meet?

I have a flexible approach to how frequently we meet, though in general it is usually helpful to meet more frequently - perhaps weekly - at the start of therapy. Sessions may be more spaced out as you approach the end. I offer you the ability to choose and book your own sessions using the client booking portal on my website. I do not reserve a specific slot for you but you can book multiple sessions in advance.

How long should therapy last?

There is no easy answer as to how long your therapy will last as everyone's therapeutic journey is unique to them. On average, I see people for around 20 sessions, but you may attend for as few as 6 sessions or as many as 50 or more. Having an ending session is very important so that we can say good bye and tie up the ends. I also benefit from hearing your feedback on how you have found your therapy. I offer you a free 20 minute ending session to help you explore if the time is right for you to you draw your therapy to a close.

Modalities in which I work

I use evidence based therapies including eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). I am accredited in both these therapies which means I have demonstrated that I a appropriately trained and can deliver these approaches competently. I am enthusiastic about what are sometimes referred to as "third wave" approaches to therapy - these include compassion focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy. All of these include elements of mindfulness and emotional tolerance practices. 

Kinds of people I see

I work with adults between the ages of 18 and 70 who are comfortable to have their therapy online. The kinds of therapies I offer all involve doing certain practices and homework. So it's important that my clients are willing to engage with this.  Due to the nature of an online single therapist private practice, there are certain problems that I find are not so appropriate for treatment in this context.  These will tend to be those conditions that carry more concerns about safety, severity, loss of insight, crisis or severely impeded functioning.  Such issues are often best treated within the context of multi-disciplinary teams and specialist services.