Rines Shanthakumar, BACP

Rines Shanthakumar is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and relationship difficulties. He also supports those facing big life changes and specific struggles such as abandonment, attachment concerns, codependency and issues around commitment. Rines communicates in English and Tamil and works with people from diverse backgrounds.

Rines trained in counselling and holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Counselling from the University of East London. He is a BACP member, which means he follows the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy framework. He describes his practice as integrative, drawing on several therapy styles to fit each person's needs.

In sessions he aims to offer a calm, non-judgemental space to talk things through. He uses client-centred listening to understand what matters most to the person in front of him. He also draws on attachment-focused ideas to look at patterns in close relationships and on cognitive-behavioural techniques to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.

Rines works with people experiencing issues such as body image concerns, chronic illness and pain, dissociation, substance difficulties, eating-related problems and feelings of emptiness. He pays attention to how past experiences shape present choices and feelings, and helps clients develop practical coping strategies.

The therapeutic relationship is central to his work. He focuses on respect, sensitivity and clear communication so people can build confidence and make changes at a pace that suits them.

How his approaches translate to online counselling

Attachment-based work looks at the patterns people form in close relationships and how early experiences shape reactions today. Online sessions can help identify those patterns and practise different ways of relating in everyday life. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and understanding without judgement, giving people space to explore what matters most to them and to set the pace for change.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) blends well with remote work because it uses clear tasks and small experiments to change thoughts and actions. CBT can help with anxiety, stress and low mood by giving steps to try between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to the person's goals and preferences. That may mean using attachment ideas at times and CBT exercises at others, depending on what helps most.

Please confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online counselling can make fitting sessions into daily life easier, for example by removing travel time, offering evening or morning slots and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. These practical benefits aim to help therapy fit around work, family and other commitments.