Ruth Frances , BACP

Ruth Frances is a BACP registered person-centred counsellor who specialises in bereavement, depression, anxiety and supporting people affected by cancer. She offers one-to-one therapy and works with people seeking either short-term support or longer-term therapeutic work. Ruth aims to create a warm, trusting and non-judgemental space where individuals can feel able to explore difficult topics that they might find hard to raise with friends or family.

Beginning counselling can feel daunting, and Ruth seeks to accompany clients through that first step toward their personal goals. Her practice is informed by practical training and ongoing professional development. Outside her private work she has contributed to services with Cruse Bereavement Care and Macmillan, completing further training and continued professional development within those organisations. Those roles have given her experience with a wide and diverse range of clients and situations, which she brings into her therapeutic relationships.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Ruth works from a person-centred foundation that puts the client at the centre of the therapy process. This approach focuses on listening with empathy and supporting individuals to find their own answers, which is especially helpful for those dealing with grief, depression or relationship difficulties.

Attachment-based therapy is used to explore how early and important relationships shape current ways of relating. It can help people who struggle with intimacy, abandonment concerns, or repeated patterns in relationships to understand and rework those dynamics.

Ruth also uses elements of cognitive behavioural therapy - CBT - to help clients identify and gently challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. CBT techniques can be useful for managing anxiety, stress and low mood by providing practical strategies alongside reflective work.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Ruth approaches this collaboratively, tailoring methods to each person’s needs, goals and preferences. Online therapy offers flexibility, allowing work to continue via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging, which can make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and health commitments and to access support from home or other convenient locations.