I am a skilled and highly qualified Chartered Counselling Psychologist providing evidence-based therapy across the country.
My experience is varied. I started working in the prison service delivering group based therapeutic programmes before moving to work in a community drug and alcohol service. I began to work for the NHS in 2011 starting in a Psychotherapy Department offering long term therapy. I also have experience working in a Pain Management Service and an Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) team, offering short term, more focused therapy.
I have a doctorate in Counselling Psychology from City, University of London and a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Sheffield. I am trained to use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and find this a very useful therapeutic approach which works to resolve a number of different types of difficulty.
I remain passionate about supporting people through many different kinds of difficulties however I do have a particular interest in helping those who have experienced trauma, especially those working for the emergency services as well as those experiencing birth trauma and postnatal difficulties.
When I am not offering one to one therapy I work as a support worker for a fabulous organisation called Lads Need Dads who provide male mentoring programmes for boys aged between 10 and 18. I am also a volunteer blog writer for the Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation (PADs Foundation). This amazing organisation offers a free platform for individuals with a long-term mental health diagnosis to help them, and their dogs, through the training process and criteria required for their dog to become a legally recognised assistance dog. I feel very passionate about the mission of these organisations and it is a pleasure to be involved in the wonderful work they do.
I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist and with the British Psychological Society (BPS) as a Chartered Psychologist. I am a member of the Division of Counselling Psychology and the EMDR Association UK.
People seek therapy for many reasons. The main areas of my therapeutic work include:
My approach to therapy is often guided by EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). However, I always take an integrative approach, combining different ways of thinking about psychological difficulty and treating problems. I believe this allows me to work in a collaborative way with people, adapting our work together to ensure it meets their needs. My aim is to help people to navigate their personal challenges while fostering self-acceptance and compassion.
Animal assisted therapy is a therapeutic approach that I am particularly interested in. It incorporates trained animals into the treatment process to support emotional wellbeing. The presence of animals can help reduce stress, anxiety and feelings of loneliness and therefore can be a meaningful tool for healing and support. In the future I am hopeful I can incorporate this into my practice.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a type of psychotherapy used mainly to help people process and recover from trauma and distressing life experiences. EMDR helps the brain reprocess memories that feel stuck. Normally, upsetting experiences get filed away over time, but with trauma, they can stay vivid and emotionally intense. EMDR aims to reduce that intensity so the memory becomes less overwhelming. The approach uses bilateral stimulation, usually eye movement or tapping, to process specific troubling memories. It is an evidence-based approach recommended for trauma treatment.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of therapy that helps people develop a healthier relationship with their thoughts and feelings. At its core it suggests that psychological suffering often comes from trying too hard to control or avoid inner experiences (like anxiety, sadness, or intrusive thoughts). ACT teaches that it’s more effective to make room for what you can’t control internally and commit to meaningful actions that are in line with personal values. ACT helps individuals build resilience, reduce the impact of negative thinking and create a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
If you'd like more information, wish to refer a client, or would like to arrange an initial appointment, please get in touch.
You can contact me by completing the form below or emailing me at enquiries@stephanieedwards.co.uk.
Please note I do not offer crisis work. If you are in need of urgent support with your mental health please contact your GP or NHS Direct on 111. If you are in a life-threatening situation or cannot keep yourself safe go to your local A&E and, if you cannot get there safely, call 999.
