About me
Psychotherapy
Hello. My name is Stephen, and I am a fully qualified, professional psychodynamic psychotherapist, registered with the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP), and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).
The terminology of therapy can be confusing, but the way I work means that: although whatever has brought you to therapy is manifesting itself in your day to day life, behaviours, thoughts and feelings, I believe that it's roots are in your past, possibly as far back as early childhood.
Starting in therapy can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. I offer a safe, confidential and non judgemental space to explore with you. I want to collaborate with you, and for us to work together to really try and understand your experiences, and try and help you move forward.
Perhaps you are feeling anxious, or are experiencing low mood. Maybe you have experienced a trauma, or are dealing with a lot of stress. You might have suffered a loss, or simply feel that something isn't quite right, and that you need some help and support. These are just some of the presenting problems I can work with, and there are many more.
I offer a free, no obligation telephone call, usually ten minutes or so, to understand a bit about you and what's been going on, and also to allow you to ask any questions you may have. From there, I conduct an initial consultation, up to 90 minutes in length, to gain an understanding of your life and history.
At that point, if we both feel that we can work together, we establish a regular, weekly appointment, either in person, online or over the telephone, and we begin.
Usually, I work in what's known as 'open-ended' fashion. This means there is no finish date in mind, and it allows for deep exploration and understanding. I can also work in what is called a 'time-limited' approach - usually 12 sessions, and focused on a specific issue. Sometimes people like this to get a taste of what therapy is like.
If you feel that I might be able to help you, please do get in touch via email or message me, and I will respond promptly.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Neurodiversity
One of my areas of focus and interest is working with neurodiverse people, specifically ADHD and Autism.
ADHD is a common mental health disorder that starts during child development, but frequently persists throughout adolescence, and into the adult years.
Common symptoms include inattention, distractibility, disorganisation, over activity, restlessness, impulsiveness and mood lability; and these may lead to considerable clinical and psychosocial impairments.
ADHD is often seen at a high rate in people with other significant clinical problems including substance abuse, unstable mood states, anxiety, depression, forensic cases and emerging or developed personality disorder.
ADHD is often associated with specific learning difficulties, and is a common problem in higher education.As awareness and understanding of neurodivergence grows, so does the need for help and support in a world that is created and maintained for neurotypical people.
Autism influences how people experience and interact with the world. It is a lifelong neurodivergence and disability. Autistic people are different from each other, but for a diagnosis they must share differences from non-autistic people in how they think, feel and communicate.
Being autistic means you may feel things and react to them differently to non-autistic people. You may find socialising confusing or tiring, and you may become overwhelmed in loud or busy places. You may have intense interests, prefer order and routine, and use repeated movements or actions to calm yourself or express joy. You might mask your discomfort to fit in, which can lead to struggles with your mental health.
Nowadays, it is generally understood that there is a spectrum, rather than a black and white definition of who is or isn’t autistic and what it does or doesn’t mean. Autistic people can be very different to each other, with different sets of strengths and challenges. The presence or visibility of characteristics can vary a lot between autistic people.
As a qualified assessor for both ADHD and Autism, I understand that living with neurodiversity can be incredibly hard. It can feel impossible to read social cues, and emotions can be overwhelming. Concentration and focus, and finishing tasks, can demand all of our energy. The knowledge, or even sense, of being different can affect our own self concept, and our relationships with others and the world around us.
I offer a space for us to explore those feelings together, both in terms of your condition itself, and how it impacts your day to day life. I understand how ADHD and autism manifests, and can work with you to help support with whatever difficulties you face.
ADHD and Autism can’t be ‘cured’ as such. Neurodivergence focused therapy can help make sense of past experiences, especially pre diagnosis, and one of my passions is helping those with a neurodiversity get as close as possible to equality of outcome.
In addition, I am aware of the challenges and difficulties someone who is a carer for, or partner or family member of, someone who is neurodiverse. Having a space to discuss this can be hugely impactful.
If you are neurodiverse, or someone in your life is, and you would like to talk about how therapy can support with that, please get in touch: stephen@thepsychotherapistlondon.com
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained at the notable WPF Therapy (Westminster Pastoral Foundation).
From there, I gained the Foundation Certificate, the Access certificate, and finally the Clinical Qualification in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.
I have an interest in intergenerational trauma, neurodiversity and grief work. I have volunteered extensively for Cruse bereavement care.
I am registered with both the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapists (UKCP), and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), and work to their codes of ethics. I am also a member of the Federation of Psychotherapists and Counsellors (FPC).
I am trained by the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN), in conjunction with Kings College London, to screen for and diagnose ADHD, and to distinguish it from other mental disorders. I am trained to administer the ADOS-2 assessment for autism.
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.
The British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is a professional association, representing the profession of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The organisation is itself made up of fourteen member organisations and BPC accredits the trainings of its member organisations. An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register.
BPC registrants are governed by a code of ethics, a policy of continuing professional development, a statement on confidentiality and a complaints procedure. The BPC is a Member Society of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector (EFPP). Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£85.00 - £120.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Session fee is dependent on location and time. Initial consultations are £120 and lasts for up to 90 minutes.
Currently, I work in Central London on Mondays. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays I am in Esher, in Surrey. On Fridays, I see clients online, but online sessions can also be arranged at other times.
ADHD tests are £599.
When I work
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Availability varies - please contact for details.
Further information
I work 5 days a week, in the Marylebone in the West end of London, and in Esher, Surrey. I work face to face, online via MS Teams, or over the telephone. I can work with people who are based outside the UK.
ADHD tests are available via all the above, or I can visit you at home if distance and appointment time allows.
