01 · Who Richard works with

Richard works with stress, Anxiety, addictions and parenting issues

Richard lists 13 specialisms and 28 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Richard chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Richard's own words

What Richard says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

As a licensed therapist with over two decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating normal life transitions and complex life challenges with foundational Christian values as one of our guides. My practice focuses on helping clients address stress, anxiety, addiction, self-esteem concerns, and anger management. I offer compassionate, yet logical, sound, spiritual guidance for those struggling with communication problems, anger, addictive behaviors, isolation, life purpose, family wounds, and interpersonal dynamics.

My approach is deeply rooted in understanding individual experiences, particularly supporting men and women through workplace challenges, relationship difficulties, and personal growth. I have extensive expertise in re-connecting people to their faith and beginning to re-experience meaningful relationships with the God of their faith, their family, and their friends. Inner Healing and meaningful prayer will be incorporated in the sessions.

I bring a holistic perspective to therapy, creating a supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences, develop healthier coping strategies, and work towards meaningful personal transformation. Whether you're dealing with relationship challenges, professional stress, or personal growth, I'm committed to walking alongside you with empathy, spiritual guidance, and professional insight.

Richard Alford, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Richard works

The 4 approaches Richard lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Richard lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Richard's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Richard runs a session.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Solution-Focused Brief TherapySFBT

Starts from where you want to end up rather than from how you got here. Sessions look for the times the problem is already smaller and work out what is different about those, so the number of sessions tends to be short and the work concrete.

Trauma-Focused TherapyTF-CBT · trauma-informed

CBT adapted for people whose difficulty is rooted in a frightening or overwhelming event. Pacing is the point: safety and stabilisation come first, the memory itself is approached gradually and only when you are ready, and the aim is that recalling it stops hijacking the present.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Richard practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Richard's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Richard at this point.

2. Naming Richard specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Richard is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Richard.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

4 questions worth asking Richard

Built from what Richard actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Richard's - Richard has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “You list both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. Which do you lean on with someone like me?”

  Those two point in different directions - one structured and led by the therapist, the other led by you. The answer tells you what the sessions will actually feel like.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “With 23 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”

  Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LPC

Licensed in

Texas

Licence

TX LPC 18362

Licence number

18362

Licence expires

31 Oct 2027

NPI

1588865380

Years in practice

23

Gender

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

15 May 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Richard's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Richard. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.