About me
I work with couples to identify why their relationship is off the rails, then teach them the skills they are weak in that are causing them to have more nasty fights than great sex. It's not enough to help couples fight better; we need to repair the damage that has been caused over the years, strengthen their friendship, and help them remember why they even liked this other person in the first place.
I help people connect deeply when they're in pain. I specialise in working with couples in crisis, narcissism and men with lots of responsibility (e.g., pastors, politicians and business leaders) who are often suspicious or hesitant about counselling. Many of my clients are in cross-cultural relationships, and I have a lot of success helping them. Specifically, I have extensive experience working with clients from Nigerian and Indian backgrounds. I also provide a 6-10 week premarital course.
As an ordained pastor working part-time in a local church, I offer clients the option of integrating faith into the psychological frameworks of counselling.
Because I believe secure relationships are the pathway to lasting change, my focus is on building a safe, supportive therapeutic relationship where clients can experience both healing and empowerment. Because you're lending me trust I haven't earned, I try to make the process as transparent as possible. Feel free to ask lots of questions.
My standard fee is £150 per session, with four spaces reserved for those who need reduced-priced sessions. I am available Monday-Thursday during business hours and have availability for a first free session. Schedule your first session here: https://embercommunitycounselling.janeapp.co.uk/#/staff_member/1
I also offer three-hour intensive sessions for couples. New clients can usually begin within 1-3 days.
Please include your phone number in your email if you want to reach out to me directly via email or WhatsApp at 07484267395.
Training, qualifications & experience
My training includes three different master's degrees in the following: counselling, theology and business. I received my master's in counselling and my master's of divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in the USA (2004-2009). I received my MBA from Warwick Business School in 2021.
I am trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. In 2011, I completed a Spanish fluency program at Universidad de Granada in Spain. I also have a bachelor's degree in Speech and Communications from Clemson University (2004).
I became an ordained minister in 2009. I am an accredited member of the BACP, ACC and ICEEFT.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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.
The Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC) is a Christian professional membership organisation for those involved in counselling/psychotherapy and linked professions, i.e. pastoral care, coaching and spiritual direction, in the UK. The organisation is made up of various different membership categories, including Counsellor and Accredited, and requires all members working as counsellors to undertake Continuous Professional Development on a regular basis.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Adult children working through potential estrangement from family.
Burnt-out pastors who need additional specialised care.
Christians going through the process of deconstruction.
Entrepreneurs, small business owners and politicians.
Clients who are highly suspicious of counselling.
Philosophical counselling for those wrestling with existential questions.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£150.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I work with clients weekly, but also provide 3 hour intensives for couples in crisis. The first session is free, and you can have a look at my live calendar to find a convenient time to connect: https://embercommunitycounselling.janeapp.co.uk/#/staff_member/1
If you are unable to afford my full fee, I reserve four slots in my schedule for those who require a reduced price. I ask all those in need to fill out an additional application.
When I work
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Feel free to check my live calendar to find a convenient time to meet.
https://embercommunitycounselling.janeapp.co.uk/#/staff_member/1
Further information
About me:
My wife and I married in 2007 and have three high school aged children here in West London. Despite living here for 11 years, my American accent is still as strong as ever. When I'm not pastoring or seeing clients, I enjoy eating spicy food, laughing, playing sports and taking risks.
Experience:
Having lived in Spain for 4 years and in London for 11, I have extensive experience working with international clients. While the majority of my work is with couples, I also have experience with family estrangement, pastor/vicar burnout, religious deconstruction and pornography addiction. I have also done some external consulting with business leaders in conflict.
Here are some recent reviews:
“I am beginning to understand so much better the negative habits myself and my husband fall into during disagreements and the different cycles we both go on. By talking through situations with Stephen, I have learnt more about the concerns and anxieties my husband has and his underlying unmet attachment needs. We have much longer stretches of time between arguments and the majority of our arguments feel less destructive. We now have more good days than bad days, and I no longer believe that our marriage is broken beyond help.”
“We’ve found Stephen warm, fun, funny, non-judgmental, and willing to push into things that were hard but have helped. It’s always felt like he was on our side and rooting for us.”
"I have found Stephen to be kind, professional and a joy to meet with. He has provided a safe space for me to work things out at my own pace with no judgment."
"The sessions have been a “safe space” in which to be open and discuss sometimes difficult issues, under guidance from a trusted 3rd party. Stephen is very affable, easy to talk to, a good listener. He is always keen to focus on positive steps forward, however small. He is always well prepared, and punctual. When sessions have been tough/tricky between [my spouse] and me, he has moderated them very well."
“I have found Stephen to be kind, professional and a joy to meet with. He has provided a safe space for me to work things out at my own pace with no judgement. He has also encouraged me to take a deeper look with grace and understanding when I may have wanted to brush over an area of pain, and that has helped me grow and heal.”
"Stephen quickly created a relaxed, open and non-threatening environment for me to operate in. His warmth, genuine interest and care was easily identifiable and made me feel very welcome and open to trusting him. His obvious gifts, skills and experience are complemented by a welcoming, warm and calm demeanour."
For more client reviews, you can also visit our website.
