About Me

My name is Hannah Riches and I am passionate about women-centred counselling. I have been qualified as a midwife for 15 years and see counselling as an extension to this role. The word midwife means "with woman" and I see counselling as standing with people through life's highs, lows, changes and challenges. I truly believe that empowering women to tell their stories and make meaningful connections in their lives, is powerful and transformative.

 

I have had counselling myself at different stages of my life and know both personally and professionally the lifelong positive impact it can have. I feel honoured and privileged to be in this role and to hear people's stories and journey alongside them. 

 

As well as a midwife and counsellor, some other important roles in my life include being a wife, mother, friend, foodie, film lover and nap enthusiast. While I love being around people in many areas of my life, I also value solitude, rest, peace and quiet and a good book. 

My Qualifications

  • Level 4 Diploma in Counselling Adults and Children and Young People (CPCAB course accredited by the NCPS)
  • CPCAB level 2 and level 3 in Counselling
  • BSc in Midwifery - alongside further courses in perinatal mental health
  • Safeguarding Level 3

Specialist in Women's Health & Wellbeing

With 15 years experience as a midwife, I have extensive experience in perinatal mental health and wellbeing. I have since extended this learning with further training into menstrual cycles, menopause and trauma training. Women's journeys are all unique and hold such value, with enormous capacity for strength and transformation.

 

From our first steps into womanhood, through to the richness of later years - our stories as women can hold so much. Whether that includes loss, grief, trauma, antenatal or postnatal depression/anxiety, dealing with chronic illness, family life and balance, menopause, children leaving home, retirement and more; I want to work with you to find your voice and also find healing through our work together. 

LGBTQ+ Affirming Practitioner 

What I firmly believe - both personally and professionally - is that what it means to be a woman is wide-ranging and varied. As an open and inclusive professional, I actively welcome anyone who identifies as a woman, which includes those assigned female at birth, trans women, and those who consider themselves non-binary. I am passionately committed to creating an inclusive and affirming space for the LGBTQ+ community. I recognise that alongside the universal challenges of being human, there can be unique dynamics shaped by identity, family systems, cultural pressures, faith, and experiences of discrimination or exclusion. Whether it’s exploring questions of belonging, navigating relationships, or working through the impact of prejudice and marginalisation, this is a space where all parts of you are welcome. My approach is to listen without judgement, honour your story, and support you in finding strength, self-acceptance, and connection on your own terms.

Counselling for Frontline Workers

I also have a particular passion for supporting frontline workers – nurses, doctors, midwives, police officers, and many others in demanding public-facing roles. Having spent 15 years working in the NHS as a midwife, I understand first-hand the pressures, hidden traumas, and emotional toll that these careers can bring. From exposure to crisis and loss, carrying the weight of responsibility and often working within overstretched systems, I recognise that the impact on wellbeing can be profound. That isn't even mentioning the impact of shift work! Too often, frontline professionals feel that their unique experiences aren’t fully understood in general counselling settings. Our work together will offer a space where those experiences are acknowledged, validated, and carefully worked through.

Want to find out more?

If you're ready to take the next step in your journey to improved health and wellbeing, get in touch today.