Stephen O'Connor

I am taking on new clients. My working hours are Monday to Friday and I can see clients at the weekend. I can see people after work hours in the evenings. 

I am a person centred counsellor which means my focus is on your experience and how you see the world. I can create a safe environment for you to explore issues that might feel difficult to talk about anywhere else. 

I work with men on issues in romantic relationships or families. Relationships are difficult and often a source of suffering and poor mental health. I can help you see how your relationships work and how you might change them. I do this by looking at how you communicate and how boundaries can help meet your needs.

Over thinking or intrusive thoughts can cause a lot of suffering and there can be a link with neurodiversity (e.g. ADHD or ASD). Being stuck in your head is sometimes a defence against difficult feelings. I can help with unhelpful thought patterns and find a healthier balance with emotions. 

Using substances or behaviours is often a coping mechanism for difficult feelings, depression or anxiety. I have a lot of experience working with addiction, if you are worried about drinking or other behaviours I can help you begin to understand what might lie beneath it.

I am a sex therapist in training (regulated by COSRT) and I can help with sexual issues experienced by individuals or couples. I can help you address issues with low sexual desire, arousal, difficulty with erections or orgasms, sexual pain and menopause. Please see my website for more information.

I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Cumbria and a Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills from the Gestalt Centre in London. 

I worked in design consulting for many years, helping businesses bring products and services to market. I have a lot of experience managing teams and business relationships with commercial clients.

I am based in Thame, Oxfordshire. 

I work in person or online. 

In person, I use therapy rooms based at The Practice in Thame and I would book a room in advance for us to meet. 

I can work on a fixed number of sessions or in an open ended arrangement. I would normally recommend a minimum of six sessions. 

As a person centred counsellor I don't bring an agenda to sessions. However, it is fine for you to have one. I can work with whatever issues you want to bring to sessions.

If I feel like the issues you have would be better handled by a different type of therapy I will tell you about this. 

My privacy policy is on my website and I comply with the GDPR for the handing of your personal data. 

I can offer a free introductory telephone call for 30 minutes.

In this session we can find out a little bit about each other and you can get a feel for whether you would like to work with me. 

If we do decide to work together, I would ask you to sign a Counselling Agreement and provide some basic Personal Information. 

We would then agree a regular time and place to meet which would ideally be weekly.