BEHIND THE PRACTICE
MEET THE FOUNDER
RYAN KARTER MBACP MSc MA BA (Hons)
As a registered member of the BACP
I adhere to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions and the Coaching Competence Framework and Curriculum. This includes regular clinical supervision, ongoing CPD, and maintaining the highest professional standards. I’m also a member of the Professional Association of Personal Consultants and Integrative Practitioners; a network of therapists specifically trained in the Personal Consultancy model.
OUTSIDE OF THE THERAPY ROOM
My interests include health and fitness, travelling, supporting my football team, and meeting new people.
I have a natural curiosity about people’s stories and a passion for ongoing learning. I am always exploring new evidence-based approaches in psychology and counselling to strengthen my practice.
EDUCATION
Alongside my MSc in Integrative Counselling and Coaching, I also hold a second Master’s degree in Applied Anthropology, Community and Youth Work. With over 17 years of combined experience across youth work, therapeutic support,community work and mental health services, I have supported people in local authorities, charities, the NHS and now, private practice.
Depression, suicidal
ideation and self-harm
Social anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Trapped in habits and cycles that are no longer serving you
Addiction (alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, gambling, digital dependence, shopping, UPF- related eating patterns, etc.)
Relationship and identity difficulties
Burnout, stress and chronic overwhelm
Feeling “stuck”, lost or directionless in life
Overcoming limiting beliefs which are holding you back
Understanding your "inner critic" and why we frequently doubt ourselves
In 2024, I joined ASCA (Addiction Support and Care Agency) in Richmond, where I worked supporting individuals struggling with substance use, as well as family members affected by substance misuse. Addiction has become increasingly prevalent, appearing across all areas of modern life. Yet I fully believe that nothing is insurmountable when we’re willing to face the underlying causes directly and work with them compassionately.
I welcome all adults, men and women, over 18 into my practice. I also specialise in men’s mental health, having developed a gender-informed approach known as Male-Informed Integrative Practice (MIIP). My Master’s dissertation (awarded a distinction) explored men’s experiences of counselling and coaching across multiple services, proposing MIIP as a model for improving engagement and outcomes for men in therapeutic settings.
MY APPROACH
The Framework
for Your Progress
A Shared Understanding of the First Step
Having been in therapy myself, something all therapists are required to undertake both before and during training, I fully understand how daunting it can feel walking into a first session. I am experienced in working with clients who arrive feeling anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, burnt out or simply unsure of what to expect. I also welcome clients who have experienced therapy before but may not have found it effective, and are now seeking a different, more integrative approach.
A Neutral Space for Your Whole Story
My style is neutral, curious and non-judgemental. I’m here to listen, to understand what’s going on for you, and to explore your world without assumptions. Therapy at TKC is a collaborative process. You remain actively involved in your journey from the very first moment we meet, whether that’s in person or online.
Shifting the Perspective, from Fear to Full Potential
I firmly believe that clients are the best experts in themselves. Most of us hold the very “keys” to the mental prison we may find ourselves in but fear often stops us from using them. Fear can be one of the most powerful forces holding us back, preventing us from reaching our potential or stepping into a fuller, more authentic life.
Where Meaningful Change Begins
Therapy must be entirely free of judgement. Everyone is welcome at TKC. I do not bring any ideological, political or philosophical agenda into the room. My sole focus is on you, your experiences and where you want to be. We work together to build a strong therapeutic alliance: a trusted, secure bond between client and practitioner. Research consistently shows that this relationship is the single most significant predictor of meaningful therapeutic change, and more influential than any specific technique or modality.
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
- CARL JUNG
HOW I WORK
From Surviving
to Thriving
Breaking the Unconscious Cycles That Shape Us
Most of the time, we go through life on autopilot. The majority of our thoughts, feelings, decisions and behaviours happen unconsciously, our patterns are shaped long before we notice them. Sometimes we even find ourselves living in ways that no longer make sense, without fully understanding how we got there.
Carving New Grooves to Sustainable Change
I work with the understanding that psychological change is absolutely possible. As an integrative counsellor and coach, I draw on neuroplasticity and evidence-based methods to help you understand what might be keeping you stuck. Humans naturally cling to what is familiar, even when it no longer serves us. Our work involves exploring how to create new ways of thinking, feeling and behaving; what I often refer to as carving new “grooves.” The deeper and more reinforced these grooves become, the more established and sustainable the new pattern will be.
Creative Interventions, Grounded in Science
My methods vary depending on what we’re focusing on. Sometimes this involves deep reflective work; other times experiential techniques, visual metaphors, or creative tasks. I’ve had clients draw hot air balloons, build structures based on Cambodian stilts, throw dried beans into a tin, and even start conversations with random strangers on public transport. These aren’t gimmicks. Each intervention is grounded in evidence-based practice and chosen intentionally to support your therapeutic progress.
Stepping Into a Life Defined Entirely by You
Ultimately, my goal is to support you to a point where you no longer feel you need therapy; where you feel ready, confident, and able to live with a sense of autonomy, purpose and internal alignment. When you reach a stage where you know, “I’ve got this now,” that’s when therapy naturally comes to an end. Imagine the freedom of living in a way that truly reflects who you are, no longer defined by old fears or the expectations of others. That’s the kind of transformation we work toward.