This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I offer a compassionate and safe space where you can explore new ways to relate to yourself, loved ones and the world in general. Many of us in the modern world feel lost, isolated, despondent and hurt. We may feel scared or alone. Our pain can be expressed in many ways: anxiety, depression, the breakdown of relationships, addictions and obsessions. Sometimes change is happening and we are being called into new ways of being which can also cause upset. I believe that in amongst the pain, suffering and upset there is hope. Each of us can move beyond our wounding and find a more balanced way of being.
I like to work in a relaxed, friendly and collaborative style. I believe that one of the most important aspects to therapy is the relationship between client and therapist. I'm not an old school stand-offish therapist who will silently wait for you to work it all out for yourself. I like to work with my clients to get things moving so we can get to the real heart of your troubles. I want you to feel empowered within the process because I think that's when real change occurs.
I believe that laughter is as much a part of the therapeutic journey as are the tears. When we open to our wounding we open to our joy. You could say that opening to our wounding is the doorway to stepping into a more joyous life. I’d like to think so. I would like this to be what therapy is about. About daring to feel what we most desire and then building the resilience to be able to express it and therefore become the person that we most honestly are. The nearer we are to being our most honest and natural selves, the easier it is to be. There is less struggle when we are not trying to be who we think we should be. There is more joy when we are just being our natural selves. I just want to clarify that when I speak of a natural self, I am not suggesting some perfect abstract idea. I simply mean that which we are when we let go of our hang-ups and trust in our own basic goodness and our own basic wisdom.
I have been working with clients this past 15 years. I originally trained in psychosynthesis psychotherapy (a psycho-spiritual approach). I have recently finished my training in biodynamic craniosacral therapy. I am a trained meditation guide and TRE practitioner. I have been part of the faculty at the Institute of Psychosynthesis for the past 10 years where I teach and facilitate therapeutic groups. I am interested in neuro-science, buddhism, attachment theory, bioenergetics and most neo-reichian disciplines.
Psychosynthesis as a psychotherapeutic approach that aims to help clients find their true self - life is about more than just survival. I feel this is important, especially in present times when many of us can feel disconnected from the world around us as well as from our own sense of purpose. We all have hopes and dreams, we all deserve the opportunity to become the person we truly are. Psychosynthesis works with both the aspects of our life that we are trying to escape from as well as helping us discover the person that we are trying to become. I find some more traditional psychotherapies pathologize our struggles instead of seeing them as part of our becoming.
I have an office in central Cheltenham with a nice sofa, a treatment table (if that’s your thing) and large rug to lie and move about on (if that’s your thing). My sessions are one hour long. I have a website you could look at www.stephbethell.com.
I am a UKCP Accredited Psychosynthesis Psychotherapist.
I identify as non-binary and use the pronouns they/them. I am joyfully sex positive and LQBTQIA+, poly, and kink friendly.
If you have any questions at all, please give me a call or drop me an email and I'd be happy to discuss them with you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained at The Institute of Psychosynthesis in London where I gained my masters degree in psychotherapy. I have worked mainly in private practice and have also worked as a counsellor for organisations working with addictions and survivors of childhood sexual abuse. I also teach at the Institute of Psychosynthesis on the MA programme in Psychotherapy.
I am a certified TRE practitioner.
I am a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist.
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 UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
Additional information
In-person sessions, 1 hour = £80 (singles), £95 (couples)
Online sessions, 1 hour = £90 (singles)
When I work
I offer appointments in both the day times and evenings.
