Lea Ritter

My therapeutic style is collaborative, trauma-informed and depth-oriented. I offer gentle guidance and thoughtful structure while respecting your pace, boundaries and individual way of processing. We explore your experiences with curiosity and compassion, considering how your patterns developed and what they may be communicating about your needs today.

I draw primarily on Internal Family Systems–informed parts work, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, cognitive approaches, mindfulness and self-compassion. Depending on what feels most relevant, a session may involve exploring an emotional or relational pattern, listening to a protective part, examining a core belief, practising a regulation skill or preparing for a difficult conversation or boundary.

Our work brings together deeper reflection and practical support. We regularly pause to consider what is helping and adapt the process to suit you. When appropriate, I may suggest simple practices to explore between sessions, always as an invitation rather than an expectation. I also take a holistic view of wellbeing, gently considering how stress, rest, daily routines and your relationship with your body may be influencing how you feel, respond and cope.

For almost three years, I have supported adults through online counselling on It’s Complicated. Working with clients from different countries and life circumstances has deepened my ability to respond flexibly to each person’s needs, history and personal context.

Before focusing more fully on counselling, I gained several years of experience in holistic health coaching. As the founder of Transform and Glow, an online practice based in Antigua, Guatemala, I have supported people in developing a more balanced and sustainable relationship with their health and wellbeing.

My work is shaped by years of experience across diverse cultures and professional sectors, blending evidence-based therapeutic methods with mindfulness, lifestyle coaching and a strong foundation in cross-cultural understanding. This perspective allows me to consider not only what you are experiencing emotionally, but also how your environment, relationships, culture and everyday habits may influence your wellbeing.

Beyond my clinical and coaching work, I have held impactful roles in education, nonprofit organisations and international development, including serving as Development Officer at Antigua International School, Donations Manager for Niños de Guatemala and an International UN Volunteer with UNDP.

I hold a Master of Science in Psychology from the University of Portsmouth, where I developed a strong foundation in psychological theory, research methods and human behaviour. My clinical training includes Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and trauma-informed practice.

I also completed a Health Coaching Diploma at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York, which deepened my understanding of the relationship between psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing. This training continues to inform the holistic perspective I bring to my work and complements my subsequent psychological education.

In addition, I hold a Master’s degree in Project Management and International Cooperation from the University of Madrid. My earlier studies in Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, Germany, provided me with a broader understanding of how relationships, social circumstances and wider systems can shape a person’s experiences, resources and wellbeing. Together, these areas of training support an integrative approach that considers both a person’s inner world and the broader context in which they live.