Richard English

Men’s Mental Health Therapist

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Psychotherapy and Counselling with Richard English

Navigating life as a man has its own difficulties, and we can feel pressure to talk when we don’t feel comfortable or don’t have the language.

Are you carrying stress, responsibility, and expectations for everyone around you, while feeling increasingly isolated, frustrated, or unfulfilled yourself?

Are difficulties with relationships, sex, family, or work leaving you feeling disconnected from the person you want to be?

Would it help to have a confidential space where you can speak openly, think clearly, and work out what comes next?

Therapy might feel daunting at first, but I offer a supportive and non-judgemental space where we can explore whatever brings you here. Respect, curiosity, and compassion underpin my practice.

My approach is two-pronged: working to relieve distress in the now, but also investigating the past to better understand the origins of behavioural patterns. This will help you make more informed choices.

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How Can I Help?

I work with men across all professions, ages, sexualities, and backgrounds. Many are from business, finance, law, government, media, leadership, and entrepreneurial roles — as well as men navigating stress, relationship difficulties, family dynamics, sexuality, identity, shame, loneliness, and life transitions.

Sharing personal experiences and feelings might feel uncomfortable at first, but I work hard to create a relaxed, confidential, and even enjoyable space where you can feel heard and supported.

I am a BACP (384247) and UKCP (2011171754) registered psychotherapist working with men who want impartial, practical support to understand what is happening and find more effective ways forward.

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Anxiety, Stress, and Burnout

Many men come to therapy because they feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or under constant pressure. You may find it difficult to switch off from work, feel anxious much of the time, or notice that stress is affecting your relationships, sleep, confidence, or enjoyment of life.

You might ask:

Why am I so anxious?
Am I burnt out?
How do I cope with stress?

Sometimes the issue is obvious: a demanding job, financial pressure, family responsibilities, or a major life change. At other times, there is a growing sense that something isn’t working, but you can’t put your finger on it.

Together, we can explore factors contributing to your stress, anxiety, or burnout, including patterns of thinking, self-expectations, work pressures, relationships, and past experiences. Alongside developing greater awareness of what’s happening, we can identify practical strategies, build resilience, healthier coping mechanisms, and a clearer way forward.

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Self-Esteem, Confidence, and Life Purpose

I see men who feel they should be more confident, more certain, or further ahead than they are. You may appear capable on the outside but still struggle with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, fear of failure, or a sense that you are not living the life you expected.

You might ask:

Why don’t I feel good enough?
How do I become more confident?
What is imposter syndrome?
What do I actually want from life?

Low self-esteem can affect how you relate to yourself, how you behave at work, what you accept in relationships, and whether you feel able to ask for what you want. You may find yourself holding back, avoiding difficult conversations, comparing yourself to others, or feeling unsure of your value.

Therapy can help you understand where these patterns began and why they continue. Together, we can explore the expectations you are trying to meet and the fears that may be limiting you — and develop practical steps to help you make clearer decisions, communicate more confidently, and move towards a more authentic, fulfilling life.

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Relationships, Single Life, and Sex

Some men come to therapy because something feels difficult in their relationships, dating life, or sex life. You may feel unsure how to express what you need, find it hard to be vulnerable, or notice that the same patterns keep repeating with partners, family, friends, or people you date.

You might ask:

Should I stay in my relationship?
Why can’t I stay hard during sex?
How do I talk about sexual fantasies, kink, or BDSM without feeling ashamed?
How do I open up my relationship with my partner?
Am I using drugs and sex together too much?

You might be navigating single life, questioning whether to stay in a relationship, struggling with intimacy, or finding it difficult to talk openly about sex. This may include erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, differences in desire, sexual fantasies, kink or BDSM, opening a relationship, polyamory, or feeling uncertain about what you want.

I also work with men where chemsex — using drugs as part of sex — has become difficult to manage, is affecting relationships, or has raised questions about sexual health, including HIV. This is an area I take seriously and approach without judgement.

I offer a confidential space to explore without shame or pressure. We can look at what’s happening, what you would like to change, and how you might communicate more clearly with the people who matter.

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Family Dynamics and Life Transitions

Family life can bring love, responsibility, pressure, conflict, and loss. You may be navigating difficult relationships with parents, partners, children, siblings, or chosen family, or trying to understand why certain dynamics still affect you.

Some men carry experiences from much earlier — boarding school, an absent or difficult parent, or a childhood that looked fine from the outside but didn’t feel that way. These early experiences can shape how you relate to people, manage emotion, and see yourself, often without you fully realising it.

You might ask:

How do I set boundaries with family?
How do I become a better father?
Why am I so worried about change?
How will I cope when someone dies?

Major life transitions can unsettle your sense of who you are. Becoming a parent, separating, bereavement, moving into middle age, or facing changes in work can leave you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure how to cope. Therapy can help you come to terms with change, understand old patterns, and find practical ways to set boundaries, communicate more clearly, and respond differently to the people closest to you.

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Therapy for Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer Men

Gay, bi, trans, and queer men can face particular pressures around belonging, relationships, family, sex, body image, community, and self-worth. Growing up in a world that wasn’t designed with you in mind can shape how you show yourself, what you feel able to ask for, and how you navigate everyday life.

You might ask:

Why can’t I find a relationship?
How do I find my community?
How do I deal with unsupportive family?
Am I using drugs and alcohol too much?
How do I build a life that feels authentic?

You may be dealing with shame, loneliness, low self-esteem, family tension, or questions about sex, dating, or body image. This might include sexual health, living with HIV, or navigating the particular pressures that can come with social and sexual culture, including chemsex.

Therapy can provide a safe space to explore without judgement or the need to edit yourself. Together, we can look at how past experiences, social expectations, family dynamics, and internalised beliefs may be affecting your relationships, confidence, sexuality, and direction.

I have several years’ experience of working with London Friend, Stonewall, and Terrence Higgins Trust and am committed to providing an affirming, inclusive, non-judgemental space.

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A Little More About Me

My approach is confidential, practical, and tailored to the individual. I am an integrative psychotherapist, which means I draw from a range of approaches — including psychodynamic, CBT, and relational therapy — depending on what’s most useful for you.

I’m also what’s known as a sexually-informed therapist. In practice, that means I’m comfortable working with sexual issues directly — whether that’s erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, mismatched desire, chemsex, kink, or simply finding it hard to talk about sex at all. You don’t need to edit yourself or worry about saying the wrong thing.

People often stay with me long-term, developing a trusting relationship that supports the work. Many return during life transitions, seeking further guidance from someone who already knows them well.

I’m a BACP (384247) and UKCP (2011171754) registered psychotherapist and trained at The Minster Centre, the UK’s leading institute for counselling and psychotherapy.

Before retraining, I spent 20 years working in TV production, photojournalism, and corporate communications. That background means I’m comfortable working with people in high-pressure, high-profile, and creative environments — and I understand what it feels like when the professional version of you and the private version start to feel very far apart.

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Areas I work with:

• Men’s issues
• Boarding school syndrome
• Anxiety
• Depression
• LGBTQ+ counselling
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Sex/sexuality (including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, chemsex, kink, polyamory)
• Relationships
• Stress management and burnout
• Identity issues and imposter syndrome
• Shame
• Feeling stuck
• Grief, loss, or bereavement
• Life transitions
• Trauma
• HIV support and sexual health

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Psychotherapy Qualifications and Training:

I trained at The Minster Centre, the UK’s leading institute for counselling and psychotherapy. Professional development is key to my practice and some of my further training includes:

• LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy
• Chemsex
• Trauma
• Death and bereavement
• Self-harm and suicide
• CBT
• Childhood sexual abuse
• Domestic abuse

As a registered member of the BACP, I adhere to their rigorous ethical guidelines and standards. I have regular supervision, which helps maintain the standard and quality of my practice.

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Contact:

It’s important to find a therapist you feel comfortable with. If my profile spoke to you in some way, email me and we can arrange a free online appointment to see how we might work together.

Rates:

My rate is then £90 per 50-minute session.
Reduced Fee Sessions:
I currently have no availability for reduced-fee clients.

Sessions:

Psychotherapy sessions at City Therapy Space (EC4):
Wednesday
Friday

Psychotherapy sessions at The Print Rooms (SE1) :
Thursday

Directions to City Therapy Space

Direction to The Print Rooms