Stephanie Bell

I currently have availability for psychotherapy sessions in Nailsworth, offered in person and online.

I offer a warm, active and collaborative way of working. We start by clarifying what feels difficult right now, how it is affecting you and the ways you have been trying to cope. We will also consider any longer-standing patterns and earlier experiences that may be shaping what is happening in the present.

When we are very close to our own experience, it can be difficult to see what is keeping us stuck.  Therapy creates space to step back, gain a broader perspective and develop a deeper understanding of the thoughts, feelings, relationships and ways of coping involved.

I work integratively, drawing on humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural ideas. This means I can adapt the therapy to you, rather than working within a single model. Some people want space to explore and understand themselves more deeply; others want a more focused approach to a particular difficulty. We can decide together what feels most useful, and review this as the work develops.

I work with anxiety, low mood, stress, burnout, relationship difficulties, loss, low confidence, recurring patterns and periods of significant change.  Therapy can also be useful if you are not in crisis but feel stuck, overwhelmed or unsure how to move forward.

I also offer CBT-I for insomnia where appropriate.

Sessions are confidential and available in person in Nailsworth, near Stroud, as well as online.

I am an integrative psychotherapist and counsellor registered with the BACP. I hold a Masters in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Roehampton and trained in CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) at the University of Oxford. I have worked in the NHS and in private practice, with clients from a wide range of backgrounds.

I offer both long-term therapy and shorter-term focused work. People come to see me for anxiety, low mood, stress, grief, relationship difficulties, burnout, trauma, perfectionism and self criticism, as well as a more general sense of feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

My approach is engaged, thoughtful and collaborative. I aim to help you feel safe enough to speak openly while developing a clearer understanding of what is happening and why. We may pay attention to thoughts, feelings, relationships and the ways earlier experiences continue to shape the present, alongside practical strategies where these are helpful.

Before training as a psychotherapist, I worked in a demanding professional environment, which gave me a lasting interest in the impact of pressure, responsibility and high expectations on mental health.

I offer sessions in person near Stroud and online.

I offer a free 15-minute video call so we can briefly discuss what is bringing you to therapy, whether we might work well together, and any practical questions you have.

If we go ahead, the first one or two sessions are used to build a fuller understanding of what is happening, including the difficulties you are experiencing, relevant background, how you have been coping and what you would like to change.

We will then agree the focus of the work, whether a shorter-term or longer-term approach seems most appropriate, how often we will meet, and the fee.

I currently have availability for psychotherapy sessions in SE1, offered in person and online.

I am an experienced BACP-accredited psychotherapist offering therapy in Waterloo, London SE1 and online.  

I work integratively, drawing on humanistic, psychodynamic and CBT.  This means we can adapt the work to what you need rather than following a single model. I have worked in the NHS and in private practice with people from a wide range of backgrounds and with many different reasons for coming to therapy.  

My approach is active, collaborative and warm.  Therapy can help you step back from immediate pressures, understand the thoughts, feelings, patterns and ways of coping that may be keeping you stuck, and consider different ways forward.

I work with adults experiencing anxiety, low mood, stress, burnout, relationship difficulties, perfectionism, self-criticism, trauma and periods of significant personal or professional change.  I offer both longer-term psychotherapy and shorter-term, focused work depending on what you would like to address. 

I have particular experience working with lawyers and other professionals in demanding, high-pressure roles.  Before training as a psychotherapist, I practiced as a barrister for ten years. This gives me first-hand understanding of the pressures that can accompany professional responsibility, high expectations, long working hours, stress and sustained exposure to challenging or distressing situations.

You do not need to have a diagnosis or be in crisis to come to therapy.  Some people come with a specific difficulty; others have a more general sense of feeling stuck, overwhelmed or dissatisfied with patterns they find themselves repeating.

I also offer CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) where sleep difficulties are a particular concern.

Alongside my psychotherapy practice, I am also an executive coach (qualification from Henley Business School).  This experience is particularly useful when work-related pressures, leadership, career decisions or professional identity are part of what you want to explore.

I offer a free 15 minute video call so we can briefly discuss what is bringing you to therapy, whether we might work well together, and any practical questions you might have.

If we decide to go ahead, the first one or two sessions are used to build a fuller understanding of what is happening, including the difficulties you are experiencing, relevant background, how you have been coping, and what you would like to change.

We will then agree the focus of the work, whether a shorter-term or longer-term approach seems more appropriate, how often we will meet, and the fee.