My Philosophy
My aim is to work compassionately alongside my clients going through their journey and to celebrate with them those ‘aha’ realisation moments which can bring so much meaning and fulfilment.
“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy – the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” – Brene Brown
Who I Am And Where I Work:
Hi, I am Steph and I am an HCPC-registered Practitioner Psychologist and a graduate member of the British Psychological Society. I qualified in 2012 and have worked in a variety of settings for the NHS and charities.
I believe in a flexible and intuitive approach that draws on various therapeutic frameworks which previous clients have reported finding helpful. These include compassion and solution-based therapies, schema and DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) -informed approaches, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural therapy), and more recently, polyvagal and Internal Family Systems-informed (parts work).
My formal training in forensic psychology focused on risk, formulation and assessment but for the last few years, I have been involved in complex mental health, working in acute care within the NHS. Client profiles have included people with severe mental health difficulties both in the community and on in-patient psychiatric wards, as well as working with the male forensic population both in medium secure hospitals and prisons and with those who have perpetrated sexual offences and their families (both adults and children), people with severe mental health difficulties both in the community and on in-patient psychiatric wards, as well as working with the male forensic population both in medium secure hospitals and prisons.
I am based in Hove and sessions take place in a light and airy room on the first floor. Accessibility is limited for those people who have difficulty with mobility and an online facility can be offered.
Please note there is a cat on the premises and therefore this may not be suitable for everyone. Alternative arrangements can be made if this is a problem.
Qualifications
BA in Geography
Graduate Diploma in Psychology – Distinction
MSc Forensic Psychology – Distinction
- Publication Factors influencing the process of change in sex offender interventions: Therapists’ experiences and perceptions Journal of Sexual Aggression (November 2010, Vol 16, No 3, pp 311-331)
Enhanced DBS checked – for adults and children
My Life Journey
Being born to ex pat parents, I attended a girls’ boarding school from the age of 9 years, where I remained until I was 18, followed by three years at University completing a geography degree. It was during my time at university that I started to feel a sense of freedom and felt empowered to make my own choices.
I am a relatively late starter in the field of psychology having made a life-changing decision to switch careers in my early 40’s from a background of financial services and recruitment. This was an epiphany moment for me, realising that I needed to work in a way that directly aligned with my passion and values. It also provided catharsis for some of my childhood trauma, offering a route to learn and integrate valuable information, which continues to this day. Returning to University (including living in student halls of residence for a year) was exciting and challenging in equal measure,
Following 3 years of intensive academic study combined with consultancy work, I successfully graduated with a Masters in forensic psychology and publication of a research article based on my dissertation. I was incredibly fortunate to find a charity who was prepared to accept someone who “did not fit the mould” i.e .an assistant psychologist who was 20 years older than the norm!
I have had many ups and downs in my life and have experienced many Big T and small t Traumas which has taken time and therapy to explore, accept and integrate and remains a lifetime mission. Themes of abuse, betrayal, rejection, loss, whilst having no voice to speak my truth have been part and parcel of my life.
However it is only having experienced and integrated these difficulties that has enabled me to apply my experiences and knowledge to help others with their own journeys – for which I am now truly grateful.
How I Work
I have worked with many people who appear to be experiencing existential crises (“Who am I?” “I don’t even know who I am!”) and for whom the mask has dropped after many years of appearing to function well in their lives. Supporting people to overcome feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and start building a life of meaning and purpose is both a humbling and awe-inspiring experience for me and I am constantly amazed by peoples’ resilience.
My own therapy has increasingly focused on working somatically and integrating my over busy mind with my (sometimes) neglected body awareness and emotional self. I have learned so much through using practices such as EFT tapping, holotropic breathwork, polyvagal exercises and much healing has taken place on my journey.
My focus is always on you and your unique needs, tailoring my approach to create a safe and supportive environment for your personal growth and healing, and to rejoice with you on those ‘lightbulb” moments which can bring so much meaning and satisfaction. Please have a look at my testimonials page to see what some of my clients have reported. Let’s work together to find the best path forward for you.
Specific Areas Of Interest
TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY
This seems to be the buzz word of the moment but, let’s face it, are there any adults who have not experienced a trauma of some kind during their life which has had a major impact on how they feel or behave? However, there is small t trauma and there is big T trauma and they can both leave quite a devastating impact. Big T trauma tends to be the type of event that can lead to a diagnosis of PTSD, arising from experiencing or witnessing a horrific event – a bad car accident, war, sexual assault which is often life-threatening, leaving the victim or bystander rendered helpless and feeling out of control. Small t trauma may arise from financial difficulties, separation or divorce, legal problems and family conflict, which can be equally destructive and potentially chronic in nature.
BOARDING SCHOOL
Individuals who were sent away to boarding school, especially at a very young age, have also been increasingly identified as experiencing trauma to the extent that Boarding School Syndrome (Schaverien, 2015) is now a recognised condition. It hypothesises that the ruptured attachments of the child leave a lasting legacy, having been removed from the familial environment and placed into an environment dictated by rules, bells, and where emotional expression is generally considered to be a weakness. This often will create significant overwhelm for the child who does not have the tools to deal with this. Psychological safety is compromised, which is then compounded where there have been instances of bullying and sexual and physical abuse by peers or teachers. To survive these environments, children learn very quickly to mask their feelings, fearing the demonstration of any vulnerability will result in shame and humiliation or ostracisation from their peers. This can continue into adult life and the dissociation from feelings can lead to an enduring pattern of relational difficulties. For example, relationships with partners and children can suffer due to being emotionally unavailable and having little understanding of their true selves. This can lead to an implosion resulting in the existential crisis where the self needs to be effectively reconstructed.
“He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it.” – George Orwell
Schaverien has identified a number of symptoms that ex boarders commonly experience, using the ABCD acronym:
- Abandonment: the child has been left with strangers who are acting in loco parentis
- Bereavement: this is more than just homesickness, the child is experiencing profound loss
- Captivity: the child is confined in their new environment, having to follow strict rules with little or no prior instruction
- Dissociation: when the child is unable to come to terms with the pain of their bereavement, they often cut off and dissociate from their feelings
Schaverien describes a dualistic existence where “One of the characteristics of the child coping with leaving home and living without love is that they form a psychological split into two aspects of personality, which I call the ‘home self’ and the ‘boarding school self’.”
Trauma can induce very difficult feelings of shame and guilt and much of my work focuses on deconstructing these and providing support to my clients to develop greater positive self-esteem and self compassion. As an ex-boarder attending an all girls school in the 1970’s, I have lived experience of some of the issues discussed above as well as having worked with clients whose lives have been impacted by boarding.
Other Areas Of Interest
SUPERVISION
Having received formal training in supervision, I would be happy to provide ongoing oversight of psychologists’ clinical work.
GROUPWORK FACILITATION
I have considerable experience in running workshops and co-facilitating group programmes to clients and staff colleagues. I am trained in critical Incident debriefing on a 1:1 and group basis. I am always interested in developing co-working opportunities.
Client Testimonials
JS, West Sussex
I had been struggling for a while before I allowed myself to acknowledge it. Opening up and speaking about it was a new experience for me, and not an easy one. Stephanie has really helped me to recognise when things are not right and to understand myself better. Her blend of warmth and empathy enables her to challenge in a supportive way that has encouraged me to try and address problems and to be more open with people about what is going on for me. I cannot recommend her enough.
JF
‘Stephanie helped me out at a very difficult time for me. She was incredibly good to work with. I felt comfortable immediately I met her as she was able to present a very calm and relaxing manner.
She never pushed any difficult issues but dealt with everything very sensitively. She was a very good listener and was able to pick out issues that arose from our conversations. In my meetings with her there was never an agenda to get through, but we talked about themes and expanded these as they came up and when I had had time to reflect on our previous meeting.
I am very grateful to Stephanie for the work that she did with me. I really appreciated the way that she listened and understood what I was saying and was able to help me realise the issues I was facing and how to deal with them. She gave me coping strategies which I still use and feel that I was able to move on as a result of the work that we did together, I would highly recommend her.’
JC
‘I started seeing Steph while at the lowest point you can reach. After a lifetime of depressive and anxiety episodes, and after trying a variety of counsellors and other therapists, I found Steph’s psychological approach to be pragmatic, professional, and, above all, compassionate. She is very person-centred, very humane, and there was none of the distance you can feel with some therapists. I felt supported and facilitated, rather than observed, as we moved through my experiences and issues. No matter how challenging the subject of each session was, by the end of each one I was in a slightly better place, and was able to see and feel a progression. I can’t speak highly enough of her. ‘
SS
‘I first met Steph after I became suicidal. I was in a very dark place. Our sessions were a lifeline, a safe space for me to understand how and why I had got to that point, and a solid foundation for me to start to rebuild my life and work towards my hopes and dreams.
Steph was completely accepting and non-judgemental – nothing I said fazed or shocked her. She was intuitive and helped me to verbalize my thoughts and feelings, so that I could make sense of them. She gave me information when I needed it and space and time to process and assimilate it.
I would thoroughly recommend Steph to anyone! She knows her stuff, she works with you from the place you are at and she will stick by you. I couldn’t have asked for a better therapist and I am eternally grateful for her support. I am now fulfilling my hopes and dreams.’
LR
‘How can I put into words what you have done for me? Words can’t do you and the team justice. Between you all you have quite literally kept me alive and given me hope when I was in a place so dark I thought there would never be hope or light again. My son still has his mother and for that I have no words enough to thank you.’
BB
‘I can’t even begin to explain how much your help meant to me. Thank you for always stepping in to help when I needed you most. Taking the time to help me meant a lot.’
JB
‘Thank you so much for helping me to not only navigate this crisis but to make sense of it all and realise that things I need to put in place. Meeting you and having our sessions has been profoundly healing and I will be forever grateful. Couldn’t have got through this so well without you.’
RH
‘I have worked with Steph over two separate hospital admissions within the nhs. Having suffered significant trauma within my childhood I have had many therapists over the years however none have ever suited me like Steph’s work. Her flexible approach to therapy allowed me to address difficulties head on whilst feeling supported and safe. I really cannot recommend Steph enough – Thank you for everything you’ve done for me’
Supervisee Testimonials
CW
It is difficult to know where to start as I feel that you have had such an impact on me and my life (thanks to you I found IFS!). Thank you for everything you have taught me and for being my emotional and spiritual guide. I have felt and continue to feel) very supported and understood by you, which I am so very grateful for.
RW
Thank you for being such a great supervisor and for teaching me so much over the past year. I have really enjoyed working alongside you and have gained such invaluable experience from all of the opportunities that you have provided me with. Thank you as well for all your continued support regarding my applications, you really have been so incredible in helping me with all of this and I really so appreciate it.
Session Structure & Fees
SESSION STRUCTURE
Why am I different?
Have you ever found that by the time you have got into the session enough to be able to discuss your issues that the time is up – 50 minutes can fly by and leave you feeling unsatisfied and frustrated with the need for more time there and then.
I offer a package of sessions with each session lasting between 60 – 120 minutes to allow time to discuss difficult and deep-seated issues rather than being beholden to a clock. However, I am happy to discuss alternatives to suit, as I do not work to a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Additionally, I offer a free 30 minute consultation (either face to face or online) to talk through what you are wanting and whether I am the right person to help you. We can discuss the practicalities of the sessions in a way which hopefully meets both of our needs. This is an exploratory discussion and does not commit either party to on-going work.
FEES
- 30 minute introductory discussion free of charge
- £120 per hour. Limited concessions are available – please contact me to discuss if you would like to work with me.
- Individual packages are available dependant on frequency and number of sessions required
Payment will be required in advance of each session/ package through BACS only. In the event of cancellation 24 hours’ notice will be required to avoid being charged.
SUPERVISION:
I can act in a supervisory capacity for those who require supervision in their clinical work.
- £70 per hour
My experience in a range of settings allows me to provide to provide supervision in the following areas – severe and complex presentations (for example co-morbid / hard to treat conditions), sexual offending and personality disorders.
Groupwork & Co-Facilitation
Please make contact to discuss any opportunities for critical debriefing or delivering workshops and training
louise Readman2023-12-26Steph has a wonderful way about her, she is incredibly easy to talk to and her vast knowledge and expertise is reassuringly evident from the outset. I would highly recommend her to anyone considering this type of therapy.Andrew Chandler2023-12-11Steph came recommended by a friend who was very happy with her service. I have been attending her sessions for nearly six months now and can't thank her enough as these have helped me enormously with every aspect of my life. Highly recommended. Thank you.