Stephanie Bushell

I am a BACP Senior Accredited integrative counsellor and psychotherapist who combines a robust theoretical training with warmth, kindness and insight. I work with both individuals and couples/relationships of all sexualities.

About Me

I value the importance of being clear, honest and human as a therapist. I don't believe that therapy should feel intimidating or mysterious. I'm always happy to explain things if you feel confused and I encourage clients to be open about what they need from me.

I see therapy as a collaborative process - you invite me to help you (as an individual or couple) to make sense of things. Through careful listening, genuine empathy and creative thinking, there is potential for us to come up with new insights together. Therapy is not about an expert offering generic solutions. It's about working together to see yourselves more clearly.

How I Work

Therapy is about entering into a safe relationship with a non-judgemental person where you can be honest and vulnerable about who you really are and explore the aspects of your life that feel as if they're blocking you from reaching your full potential. It's you that sets the pace and it's you that chooses what you're ready to share and explore.

I am trained integratively which means that I have expertise in more than one counselling theory, which I then integrate to provide a flexible and tailored approach. Being competent in several different approaches allows me to work with the most diverse range of people and problems. No two people that come to see me for help will ever be alike, so it's important to be able to think openly and flexibly about the best way to work with someone.

My original integrative training was based on three core theories:

Psychodynamic: This approach is led by the idea that our pasts have an impact on our present situations - understanding and healing our past can help us to break patterns that we may feel trapped in without understanding why, and to help us to have greater compassion on ourselves. This can be particularly useful within couple relationships where the same patterns can repeat endlessly without real understanding. The psychodynamic approach also focuses on unconscious processes. This means that we are often driven by things that we're not yet aware of. Once we do become more aware of them through therapy, we become more empowered to make different choices in our lives. The stuckness we have felt can finally be shifted. My ongoing training has been psychodynamically focused, so I now consider this my core approach.

Person-Centered: This is led by a philosophy that we all have within us the capacity to grow and reach our potential, but that life circumstances can get in the way of that. Person-centered counselling offers the foundational principles of real empathy, unconditional and non-judgemental care, and a down-to-earth realness that makes counselling feel safe, natural and open. This philosophy still forms an important part of my work.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This is an approach that tackles the unhelpful thoughts that lead to distressing feelings that in turn lead to unwanted behaviours. This can be a useful way of thinking, but please note that I no longer work in this way, except when working purely with phobias. If CBT is what you are looking for, another therapist specialising in this approach would be a better fit for you.

My usual approach is traditional 'talking therapy' but I am also open to using the arts and creative methods to express things that are hard to put into words (if that is something that you as the client are comfortable with).

How Therapy can Help You

I believe in therapy as a way of getting to the heart of what drives a person or a couple to do and feel the things that they do, and to unlock new and healthier ways of living. The applications of it are endless and the potential for positive change is enormous.

Fees are £85 for individuals and £105 for couples, whether in person or online. Sessions are 50 minutes long. Assessment sessions are charged at the same rate.

Concession spaces are currently all taken. 

Please see my website for more details: www.compassion-counselling.com

My practice is about 16 minutes walk from Honor Oak Park station.

Alternatively, the 343, the P12, the 63, the 363, the 484 and the 12 buses all stop nearby.

The street where I live is unmetered and free to park in, if you decide to come by car.