Maria "Ri" Punt, BACP

Maria "Ri" Punt offers support for people dealing with relationship strains, trauma and abuse, LGBT issues, family concerns, and coping with life changes. She creates a warm, relaxed space where people can talk through what is happening. Maria describes counselling as a way to gain clarity and awareness about lived experience. She uses an empathic, non-biased approach to help people reconnect with their inner strengths.

Maria works in an integrative way, drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches to suit each person’s needs. Sessions focus on helping people make sense of difficult feelings and practical patterns in day-to-day life. She aims to build trust and a sense of safety so that difficult topics can be discussed without judgement.

Her practice includes support for those affected by chronic pain, illness or disability, caregiver stress, and issues linked to sexual identity and sexuality. Additional areas of focus include BDSM and kink cultures, domestic violence, post-traumatic stress, and challenges linked to prejudice or discrimination. Maria also addresses concerns such as guilt, shame, life purpose, and the emotional impact of veteran or first responder work.

Maria brings 19 years of professional experience to her work and holds BACP accreditation, which is listed as BACP. She is based in the United Kingdom and offers sessions in English. People who want to begin can follow the Start Therapy process on the site to match and schedule time with her.

Therapeutic approaches and online working

Maria describes her work as integrative, which means she blends evidence-based techniques to fit each person. That can include approaches that focus on understanding thoughts and feelings, and approaches that help process traumatic memories and reduce their impact on daily life. Each method is chosen to match the issue being brought to sessions, such as relationship strain, post-traumatic stress, or dealing with chronic illness.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist discusses options with the person and agrees a way forward based on their goals, preferences and what feels manageable. This is a collaborative process and may change over time as needs evolve.

Session formats are not specified in the original biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by avoiding travel and allowing sessions around work or caregiving commitments. It can also allow for shorter check-ins or not needing to be on camera, depending on the agreed format. Registered or accredited professionals help clients weigh these practical choices when arranging sessions.