Benjamin Raffles, NCPS

Benjamin Raffles NCPS is a counsellor who has built a practice around making therapy accessible and useful. He practised independently before training as a counsellor eight years ago and later opened a private practice in Somerset, UK. He aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, relationships and the other pressures of everyday life.

Benjamin’s background includes running a low-cost counselling service to widen access to support. He describes his approach as integrative, which means he draws on several complementary methods rather than following one fixed model. His practice includes ideas from person-centred therapy, Gestalt work and transactional analysis, along with influences from existential thought.

In sessions he focuses on the person’s experience and priorities. Conversations are guided by compassion and respect, and the client is treated as the expert on their life. The counsellor offers practical ways of looking at patterns and choices while staying mindful of emotion and meaning.

People come to him for common concerns such as stress, depression, low self-esteem, panic and social anxiety. He also helps those facing life changes, money worries, feelings of isolation and midlife crisis questions. Benjamin supports people through these issues with straightforward discussion and collaborative planning.

His style mixes gentle challenge with encouragement. He works to help clients find small, manageable steps forward as well as longer-term shifts when appropriate. Sessions are described in plain terms so clients know what to expect before they begin.

How his approaches translate to online work

Benjamin draws on integrative methods, which lets him tailor each session to the person in front of him. Person-centred work focuses on listening, reflection and creating space for a person to find their own answers; this helps with stress, low mood and self-worth by prioritising what matters to the client.

Gestalt-influenced techniques encourage noticing what is happening in the moment and trying small experiments in thought or behaviour. This can help with anxiety, relationship dynamics and midlife questions by highlighting patterns that feel stuck.

Finding the right mixture is part of the work. He will discuss different approaches with the client and agree together what to try, adapting methods over time based on needs, goals and preferences.

The practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy week and avoiding travel time so check-ins can be easier to schedule. Because the biography does not list specific session formats, confirm which ones are offered before booking. Many people find online sessions let them maintain continuity of support while managing day-to-day commitments.