LOCATION: Consulting room at Newtimber
AVAILABILITY: Monday & Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening
PRICE: £65 per session / £90 per couples session
SPECIALISMS:
Anxiety & Depression
Relationships and/or Couples
Sexuality and Gender-related issues

Training

Stephanie a BACP registered fully-qualified Psychotherapeutic Counsellor working in and around the Brighton and Hove area. She completed her post-graduate psychotherapeutic training at Brighton University, during which time she worked within the LGBTQ+ communities.

Prior to this she worked providing rape victim support, as well as in general psychotherapy clinics within the East Sussex area. She also has a BA (Hons) degree in Sociology and part Psychology, and an earlier career background in teaching.

Approach

The way Stephanie works is based on the notion that the past can effect your experiences and feelings in the present, along with the idea that important relationships, perhaps from early childhood, may create a pattern for how you respond to people later on in life.

She will often assess emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and early-life experiences in order to gain more understanding into your present-day problems. Sessions may also highlight patterns which may be recurring, or defense mechanisms you may have developed as a way of coping but which may now be getting in the way of life. In doing this, Stephanie can help you to take steps towards changing and challenging those patterns, thoughts, and behaviours, providing some relief from your current struggles and symptoms.

Anxiety & Depression

Therapy encourages self-reflection, helping you to become more aware of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. Increased self-awareness can be a crucial step in making positive changes when it comes to depression and anxiety.

Stephanie may work with you to make positive lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthier diet, incorporating regular exercise, and improving sleep hygiene. These changes can have a positive impact on mood.

By focusing on identifying negative thought patterns and behaviours associated with depression & anxiety, Stephanie can work together with you to recognise and challenge these negative thoughts, replacing them with more positive and realistic ones. Session can also focus on developing coping skills to manage stress, negative emotions, and challenging situations. Learning effective coping mechanisms can empower you to deal with life's difficulties in a healthier way.

Simply having a supportive and empathetic space to talk about your feelings can be therapeutic in itself. Stephanie can provide validation and understanding, helping you to feel heard and less alone in your struggles.

Relationships and/or Couples

If you are having difficulties forming meaningful connections, whether at home, work, or with friends, Stephanie can provide a safe space for you to explore your needs and wants in order to deepen awareness and reconfigure how you connect with yourself and others.

Sessions with Stephanie enable you an often critical timeout from hectic living, supporting you and your partner to refocus on your relationship. Affairs, intimacy or sexual problems are just a few of the issues Stephanie has experience in working with, as well as codependency, communication difficulties, ingrained dynamics and polyamory and/or ethical Non-monogamy.

Sexuality and Gender-related issues

Topics covered under sexuality and gender include:

• Internalized homophobia or transphobia, self-hatred & shame.

• Gender Dysphoria & coping strategies for transitioning.

• Relationship and intimacy concerns, navigating societal biases, family dynamics, or managing issues related to open relationships.

• Family and social acceptance, improving communication and building a stronger support network.

• Difficulties related to sexual functioning, desire, or satisfaction (including Chem Sex), working collaboratively to enhance sexual well-being.

• Managing the emotional impact of an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, addressing stigma, and developing coping mechanisms.

Stephanie worked for an LGBT+ charity for over a year and within the LGBTQIA+ communities for over 8 years providing counselling and therapy. She provides a safe and non-judgmental space to explore these issues as openly as possible. Stephanie is culturally competent and LGBTQIA+ affirmative.

Other information

Stephanie has over 8 years of experience in working with students, in particular international students and the problems caused by academic pressure and/or culture shock when moving to a foreign country. She has also more recently begun working with neurodiversity and diagnoses that fall within that category, such as dyslexia, autism, and ADHD.

Stephanie's articles in expertise and resources