Stephanie Saunders

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Verified Professional

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MA Hons. Psy, PgDip Couns. PgCert. CC, PgDip SRT

About me

Are your disagreements starting to sound like a broken record? Do you share a home, but feel more like roommates? Perhaps sex has become the elephant in the room that you both actively avoid Or you are experiencing dating burnout?


When you lose connection with your partner—or feel lost in the modern dating world—it can feel incredibly isolating. You don't have to navigate this alone. I provide a calm, completely non-judgmental space to help you untangle these challenges and build a life, and a sex life, that genuinely works for you.

🤝 How I Can Help You
I work with individuals and couples to build secure communication, establish healthy boundaries, and rediscover intimacy. My practice focuses on three core areas:

1. Relationship Therapy
Whether you want to deepen your connection or renegotiate the terms of your partnership, we will work on building a secure base.
 
Communication: Moving past repetitive arguments and building deep, empathic connection.
Ethical Non-Monogamy & Polyamory: Navigating the conversations, boundaries, and emotional security needed to safely open up your relationship.
Next Steps: Safely planning future commitments or navigating complex transitions together.


2. Specialist Sex Therapy
Sexual difficulties can be painful and incredibly hard to talk about. Drawing on my specialist training, I work with both individuals and couples using tailored, structured therapy to help you overcome physical or emotional barriers and achieve a fulfilling sex life. I regularly help clients navigate:

Painful intercourse (Vaginismus and Vulvodynia)
Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation
Loss of desire or mismatched sex drives
Difficulty reaching orgasm (Anorgasmia)


3. Intentional Dating Coaching (For Individuals)
If dating apps feel like an exhausting chore, or if you find yourself constantly choosing partners who cannot meet your needs, that pattern can change by:

Differentiating between instant chemistry and true compatibility.
Overcoming the pressure to "perform" on dates so you can just be yourself.
Managing attachment anxiety and a fear of rejection.
Uncovering your core values to date with firm, healthy boundaries.

👋 My Approach & About Me
I believe that a great relationship—and a satisfying sex life—is designed, not stumbled into. My approach is down-to-earth, collaborative, and entirely inclusive of all relationship structures and sexualities.

I understand that talking about your sex life or dating anxieties takes immense courage. In our sessions, you can bring the raw, honest truth of how you are feeling. 

📞 Your Next Step
I work online, meaning you can join our sessions from the comfort & privacy of your own home anywhere in the UK.

I offer an initial consultation session for £35. Ongoing individual & couples sessions are £70, & sex therapy sessions are £75. Click the contact button above to send me a message.  

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Qualifications & Experience in Counselling and Sexology
  • Graduated in 2008 with an MA Hons. Degree in Psychology, Edinburgh University.
  • Post-grad Diploma in Transactional Analysis Counselling, COSCA accredited course awarded by the Counselling & Psychotherapy Training Institute.
  • Certificate in Couples Counselling awarded by Relationships Scotland.
  • Diploma in Sex and Relationship Therapy, awarded by Relationships Scotland.
  • Experience working in both the Private and Voluntary sector gaining experience working with individuals and couples to improve relationship dynamics and solve sexual difficulties.
  • Extensive knowledge working with the LGBTQAI+ Community and supporting those experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, stress and depression as well as a number of other mental health issues. 
  • Attend regular CPD (Continued Professional Development) courses to inform my practice and have regular supervision in adherence with ethical framework set out by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Member of Statutory, Regulatory and/or other professional body:

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Registered Member of The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT)

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

£70.00 - £75.00

Additional information

All initial sessions are charged at £35. This gives us a chance to talk through the areas of your life you would like to work with and whether the types of counselling I offer would be suitable for you. All sessions are 60 minutes long. Please see below for a break down of fees.

Individual sessions are charged at £70.

Couples counselling sessions are charged at £70.

Sex Therapy is charged £75.

Further information

I am currently working on a secure online video conferencing platform.

Citibase Plc, 1 St. Colme Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH3 6AA

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults (25-64)
Couples

Online platforms

Zoom
Stephanie Saunders
Stephanie Saunders