Why might
I need counselling
You Are Not Broken — You Are Becoming
Life has a way of testing us. Sometimes, we carry wounds we don’t even realize are still open. Sometimes, we find ourselves stuck in the same loops, facing the same struggles, wondering why we can’t seem to move forward.
But healing isn’t about “fixing” yourself—because you were never broken. It’s about understanding. It’s about untangling the knots, making sense of the patterns, and learning to meet yourself with compassion instead of judgment.
Counseling isn’t about handing you answers—it’s about helping you unlock the ones already inside you. Whether you’re navigating childhood wounds, relationship struggles, trauma, or simply the weight of being human, you don’t have to do it alone.
The mind and body are deeply connected, and when we begin to work through our inner world, the effects ripple outward—changing not just how we think, but how we live.
If you’re ready to begin, I’m here.
frequently
asked questions
You can self-refer to Rising Sun Therapies for counselling, and we also take referrals from other professionals.
Deciding that you might need some extra help is a great first step.
A good counsellor will be registered and accredited, and you can find them on the professional register of counsellors. See below to read about Richard’s accreditation.
Finding the right support starts with a conversation.
Richard offers an initial 20-minute session—if you’d like—to see if the client-counsellor relationship feels like the right fit for you. Or, if you’re ready to begin, you can go straight into a full 50-minute session.
Each session is shaped around you—your needs, your pace, and what fits best with your life. There’s no pressure to commit to a set number of sessions. Instead, after each appointment, you’ll have the space to decide what comes next.
Your story is yours to share, and Richard is committed to creating a space where you feel safe to do so. Everything you bring to your sessions is treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality. What is shared in the therapy room stays there, with only a few legal and ethical exceptions—such as if there is serious risk of harm to yourself or others, in which case Richard may need to take appropriate steps to ensure safety.
If you have any questions about confidentiality, privacy, or how your information is handled, Richard will be happy to talk it through with you before or during your sessions. The most important thing is that you feel secure, supported, and in control of your own journey.
For some, face-to-face counselling feels like the best fit—being in the same space, sharing energy, and feeling the presence of another. For others, it’s simply not an option. Whether distance, mobility, or personal comfort makes in-person sessions difficult, online counselling provides a flexible and accessible alternative.
To ensure confidentiality and a secure space for clients, Richard offers online sessions exclusively via Zoom. To make the most of your sessions, we recommend using WiFi rather than mobile data (to avoid unexpected costs) and finding a quiet, private space where you feel safe to talk openly.
Wherever you are, support is within reach.
With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare and chronic pain sector, Richard has spent the last five years specializing in trauma and somatic therapy, deepening his understanding of how we experience and process life’s challenges—emotionally, physically, and mentally. His training includes Integrative Counselling, Trauma-Informed Approaches, Somatic Therapy, and a focus on working with relationships, anger, and rage. Richard has had the privilege of supporting individuals through a variety of issues, including trauma, abuse, anxiety, chronic illnesses such as POTS, EDS, Fibromyalgia, and FND, as well as those managing the complexities of autism and young adulthood.
Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Richard offers a safe, supportive space to explore what’s weighing on you, at a pace that feels right for you.
Richard is an empathetic, professional individual with a wealth of personal knowledge and communication skills. I would recommend him and his services to anyone in need of them.
George C.
About
Richard McGerther
Richard is a counsellor with a wealth of experience helping people navigate life when it feels overwhelming, confusing, or simply too heavy to carry alone. His approach is grounded, compassionate, and rooted in creating a safe space where you can explore what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Richard works with individuals at My Sleepy Hollow through Rising Sun Therapies, supporting people through anxiety, trauma responses, emotional patterns that hold them back, and the everyday bumps that life throws at all of us.
He holds personal accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is a qualified Clinical Supervisor, bringing a reflective, ethical and experienced perspective to his work.
Richard’s aim is simple: to offer steady, non-judgmental support that helps you feel seen, understood, and better able to find your own way forward.
