Stephanie Queen

Navigating the world with a loud and negative inner dialogue is exhausting. Therapy offers a space to explore the difficult beliefs we hold about ourselves, our capabilities, and what we deserve. Starting therapy can feel like a big step, perhaps something you've been meaning to do but keep putting off. It's natural to have worries, but in my experience, therapy often becomes a comforting and encouraging space. 

The most essential element of therapy is the relationship you build with your therapist. I strive to create a relationship that feels honest and warm, one that can endure gentle challenges. The goal is to support you in reflecting on unhelpful behavioural patterns and coping strategies, guiding you towards more fulfilling ways of managing life's challenges. This process can have a profound impact on the relationship we have both with ourselves and those around us.

Prior to becoming a therapist, my background was in training and development, particularly mental health, corporate wellbeing, and management training, predominantly working with clients in the media industry. I therefore understand the demands and challenges of both creative and corporate environments, and the impact work can have on our levels of anxiety and overwhelm. Therapy has the power to create change in both our personal and professional lives; as we evolve internally, our external circumstances often reflect this growth.

As an integrative practitioner, I am guided by the idea that no single approach to therapy that works best for everyone. Broadly speaking, my way of working is influenced by a blend of psychotherapeutic theories, neuroscience, and evidence-based techniques. I am particularly interested in and informed by the following:-

Psychodynamic Theory: I'm interested in exploring how early relationships and experiences shape adult attachment patterns. Understanding these influences not only sheds light on your relationship with others but also on the one you have with yourself. 

Existential Therapy: I integrate a philosophical perspective into our sessions, exploring your unique interpretation of life, the world, and yourself. Drawing from existential philosophy, I believe that a meaningful life entails taking ownership of our choices, thereby granting us increased agency over our lives.

Trauma-Informed Work: I have completed extensive additional training in trauma and work in a trauma-informed way. I understand the complex impact trauma has on a person's ability to cope and how they make sense of the world around them. The emphasis is on guiding you to process any trauma you’ve experienced but only ever in a safe and steady way.

Neuroscience-informed and Body Based Approaches: Often, when we find ourselves consistently operating from a state of heightened activation and dysregulation, we tend to dwell primarily in our minds, disconnected from our bodily sensations. However, delving into the physiological responses elicited by our emotional triggers can equip us with the tools needed for improved regulation.

Working Relationally: A strong therapeutic relationship can be extremely nourishing and reparative. I work relationally and the focus is on building warm and genuine relationships with my clients, enabling us to navigate gentle challenges together.

I practise in an inclusive way that values diversity across age, race, background, gender, sexuality, and relationship styles. I have significant experience supporting neurodivergent clients and work in a neuro-affirmative way. 

Free 30-minute initial online session