Professional psychological consultation
and personally tailored interventions
Key Qualifications
EMDR (all levels 1-4) (2018)
BPS Qualification in Counselling Psychology (Doctorate level awarding Chartered Status, 2016)
Children Matter (conversion course) (2013)
M.Sc. Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (Pass with Distinction, 2012)
M.Sc. Multicultural Counselling (2005)
B.Sc. (Hons) Behavioural Science (2001)
Background
Stephanie started her psychology career in the NHS and moved towards Counselling Psychology to work in best accordance with her humanistic and existential values. She attained Chartership through independent study with the BPS. Her training included placements in the charitable sector supporting children’s recovery from traumatic bereavement and women’s recovery from sexual violence. She has worked in the private sector since 2012 mostly with clients with long-term issues, such as complex trauma.
Passions
Stephanie is passionate about wild places and natural environments. She has an outdoor office at home among a half acre garden with a stream and mature trees, meadow area and vegetable garden. She invites clients to use and enjoy the space as part of their therapy. She also meets with clients in outdoor spaces for walking sessions in woods, hills or beaches. She is interested in the potential for a developing relationship with nature to restore open and trusting patterns of human relating.
Stephanie is a Counselling Psychologist with a wealth of experience in psychological therapies across NHS, independent and voluntary settings. She offers an honest and authentic presence grounded in evidence-based research, with respect for the choices of each different client about the approach they feel is useful for them. Stephanie is trained in multicultural counselling and is keen to work across cultures with sensitivity and is LGBTQ+ affirmative.
Stephanie works with a wide range of psychological issues including adjustment to major life events; trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTSD); recovery from abuse; issues of self worth and confidence; relationship difficulties; stress and insomnia; depression and grief work; anxiety including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, health anxiety and generalised anxiety.
Stephanie works with clients to develop a tailored plan for therapy. She draws on a wide knowledge base including: cognitive and meta-cognitive approaches, mindfulness, DBT-informed therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), compassion focused therapy, narrative therapy and person centred therapy. Stephanie is skilled in short-term work and will encourage clients to undertake practical tasks between sessions where she believes this will be beneficial.
Stephanie also offers counselling supervision to professionals (one-to-one or groups) and training in counselling skills, applied psychology, and mindfulness.
“I was glad to find Stephanie after having tried a number of counsellors and psychologists. She provides an intelligent and individual / person-focused approach that results in helpful conversations and new perspectives. For me the quality of the sessions lies in her attentive listening that she thoughtfully combines with her high standard of professional knowledge in psychology.” Anonymous.
“I have been receiving counselling and therapy from Stephanie for a long standing problem. I have found Stephanie to be empathetic, kind and very supportive. She has provided me with lots of different strategies to manage my everyday life and has helped me in boosting my confidence and in seeing my situation from an alternative perspective.” W.
“Working with Stephanie was simply life changing. My quality of life has vastly improved since our first meeting and she has helped me through some of the very darkest times I've faced. With her guidance I was able to not only work through distressing situations, but also to address the root causes behind my most pressing issues, always approaching every problem with compassion and deep insight. Stephanie has helped me to become a more resilient person and I will never stop being thankful for everything she did for me”
S.
Additional Training Courses undertaken
Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy (2017 - 2018) EMDR works, completed all training levels 1-4 - able to work with complex and severe trauma
Mindfulness (2002 - current) a range of courses and retreats, more formally since 2016 when I enrolled on the Teacher Training Pathway with Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, Bangor University, now overseen by the Mindfulness Network, close to completion - MBSR courses are offered once or twice a year.
Compassion Focused Therapy (2013-2015) advanced skills training completed - on of the latest developments that offers an effective therapeutic approach for people who have not benefited from CBT and have long standing issues of depression, worthlessness and traumatic shame.
Lowland Leader Award (2017-2018) Mountain Training Association outdoor qualification including outdoor first aid - safe leading in the outdoors for individuals or groups.
Narrative Therapy (2005-2014) Levels 1 & 2 with the Centre for Narrative Practice, plus a range of short courses on anorexia and trauma - this approach emphasises the personal agency we have to create solutions through our own choices, finding our own life narratives and rejecting the unhelpful narratives that society can sometimes hand down to us.
Children Matter (2013) Conversion course for qualified counsellors of adults to work with children, covering attachment issues and play therapy.
Journey of Young Women (2016) Mentoring Girls and facilitation of girls circles and coming of age / rites of passage groups - certified training to offer positive and empowering groups for young women.