Stephen Padfield

Stephen Padfield is a counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief and life changes. He works with adults on issues like depression, addiction, ADHD and relationship or intimacy concerns. Stephen also supports people navigating LGBT matters, gender dysphoria, and hospice and end-of-life counselling. He holds NCPS as a credential and has five years' experience.

Stephen uses a mix of approaches so sessions are shaped around what each person needs. He draws on Client-Centred therapy to make space for people to speak freely and be heard. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is used when practical steps and thinking patterns need attention. He also brings mindfulness techniques into sessions to help with stress and grounding.

His style is straightforward and non-judgemental. In conversation he helps clients name problems, try small experiments between sessions, and notice what changes. He values the relationship in the room and believes that how people are treated matters as much as the techniques used.

Stephen completed a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy and lists NCPS as his credential. He has worked with people across adulthood and with concerns including bereavement, trauma and sexuality.

People interested in practical tools will find exercises and pointers they can use day to day. Others who want to look at meaning, values or identity can work more exploratively. Stephen aims for sessions that match what a person needs right now.

Therapeutic approaches and online working

Stephen commonly uses Client-Centred therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in his work. Client-Centred therapy focuses on listening without judgement and helping people find their own solutions, which can suit emotional concerns and identity questions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy offers structured tools to spot unhelpful thinking and try small practical changes, which can help with anxiety, low mood and coping skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and is done together. The counsellor will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful, then try methods that fit the person's needs. This collaborative way means techniques can shift as the work progresses.

The practical benefits of online therapy include easier fitting of sessions into a busy week and reduced travel time. Please confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Online sessions can make it simpler to access regular appointments and to use short check-ins or focused skills practice between face-to-face meetings when that suits the person.