Richard Benjamin

Are you living with stress, anxiety or low mood related to a distressing experience? Perhaps you feel held back or haunted by events that continue to bring painful memories, thoughts and feelings?

I offer Flash therapy to ease the distress of traumatic experiences, without having to talk about them. For a strong majority of clients, this dramatically eases the distress of painful memories within 3 sessions.

Most of us experience trauma in our lives - from one-off events such as accidents, violence and bereavement to more prolonged experiences like bullying, parental separation, illness and other forms of loss.  These events can stay with us, causing recurring distress and undermining our mental health. 

Flash therapy combines talking therapy with simple physical movement to help our brains process the impact of distressing experiences. The memory of the event will stay, while the distress linked to it will ease dramatically. Flash works effectively without having to "relive" or discuss in any detail the experience or event.

Having experienced the benefits of Flash and witnessed the swift and dramatic difference it can make for clients, I am excited to offer this through my private practice. 

Flash therapy is a branch of the EMDR approach. These techniques use straightforward body movement to help the brain process traumatic events and resolve related symptoms including low mood, anxiety, stress, nightmares and intrusive thoughts.  

The process, known as bi-lateral stimulation, is completely safe and effective and supported by a growing body of research. Flash is just as effective through online sessions as it is in-person. 

For more information, contact me or visit https://flashtechnique.com/wp/

A skilled and experienced therapist, I am drawn to counselling by how talking therapy has helped me to heal from trauma and take care of my mental wellbeing. I value the power of therapy to heal and change lives and I provide a confidential and non-judgemental space to support this. 

I have helped many hundreds of clients in a diverse range of settings since qualifying in 2010 including NHS, workplace, further education and private practice. I am trained in integrative care, combining person-centred therapy with creative approaches to work sensitively and supportively with clients. 

I am trained in Flash therapy to specifically address the pain and distress of traumatic experiences. 

I have worked with people aged from 16 to 92, together facing all kinds of challenges and appreciate the value of diversity of both experience and person.  

My home-based practice offers a bright and welcoming space for in-person sessions and I am equally comfortable offering remote appointments online or by phone. 

I have held BACP accreditation since 2017 and their Ethical Framework sits at the heart of my practice. I attend regular supervision and training to ensure my practice is ethical, effective and continues to develop. I am a COSCA-qualified counselling supervisor and have experience of teaching counselling. 

Choosing a therapist is important and I offer a free initial phone consultation of up to 15 minutes to connect and see if we are the right fit for each other. 

Choosing a therapist may be one of the most important decisions you make and I offer a free initial phone consultation of up to 15 minutes to connect and see if we are the right fit for each other. 

If you decide to work with me, our first session will focus on connecting and identifying what change you would like to see in your life and how we can support this together. Forming a picture of your circumstances and understanding your concerns will be crucial to our work together. 

We will discuss and agree dates and times of sessions and I will answer any questions you have about my practice or approach. 

I will provide a contract of service as a solid platform for our work together and obtain essential information from you - including contact details and, for your safety, an emergency contact.