Registration on file

Maria "Ri" Punt, BACP

Maria "Ri" Punt offers support for people facing relationship strain, issues linked to sexual and gender identity, trauma and abuse, and major life changes.

LGBT
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
+21 more

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About Maria

Maria "Ri" Punt offers support for people facing relationship strain, issues linked to sexual and gender identity, trauma and abuse, and major life changes. She also helps with family problems, caregiving stress, chronic illness and pain, sexual culture concerns including BDSM and kink, and matters around sexuality and prejudice.

Maria presents a calm and approachable presence and aims to make it easier to talk about difficult things. She works in an integrative way, drawing on a range of therapeutic ideas to match each person's needs.

Background and approach

Sessions are a place to talk things through, notice patterns, and build on strengths. Maria emphasises trust and safety as the base for any work together. Clients can expect a conversational style that balances listening with gentle reflection.

The focus is practical - clarifying what matters, finding manageable steps, and building coping skills. She supports people to reconnect with their own inner resources and resilience. Maria brings 19 years of experience as a counsellor and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.

Her practice is based in the United Kingdom and she offers online work as well as other session formats. Sessions are offered in English and the pace and focus are set by the person seeking help. Maria aims to help people feel heard, understood and better able to make choices about next steps.

Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed

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Registration

Body	Registration number	Expires
BACP	77902	May 2026

Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.

Check on the BACP register

Sessions and payment

Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.

Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Maria lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

LGBT
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Coping with life changes
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Domestic violence
Family problems
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
HIV / AIDS
Life purpose
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Sexuality
Traumatic brain injury
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches and online therapy options that fit your life

Maria uses an integrative approach, blending evidence-based techniques to suit the person in front of her. One commonly used direction is trauma-informed work which focuses on helping people understand how past harms affect current feelings and relationships and build skills to manage triggers and stress.

Another helpful strand is relational and attachment-informed work which looks at how patterns in relationships develop and how to change unhelpful cycles. This approach can be useful for relationship strain, identity issues and family-related concerns.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Maria collaborates with each person to decide what methods to try, based on their goals, preferences and what works in early sessions. She adapts her way of working as needs change so the plan stays relevant.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit into a shorter break or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging let people check in between longer sessions and work in shorter, written bursts. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and health constraints while still connecting with a registered therapist.

Frequently asked

What concerns does Maria focus on?

She supports people with LGBT issues, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, family difficulties and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include chronic illness, caregiving stress, sexual culture matters and post-traumatic stress.

How would you describe the therapeutic style?

The approach is warm and conversational, with an emphasis on listening and gentle reflection. Work tends to be practical, helping people notice patterns and try small steps toward change.

How much experience does the counsellor have?

Maria has 19 years of experience working as a counsellor. That background informs her ability to adapt methods to different situations.

What professional registration does she hold and where is she based?

She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, and practises in the United Kingdom.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English only. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be arranged as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability and is managed through a subscription model. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start working with Maria?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to the therapist's availability.