Stephen Padfield

Stephen Padfield is a counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression and relationship or intimacy-related concerns. He also supports people dealing with grief, addictions, self-esteem struggles, ADHD and issues linked to gender and sexuality. Stephen uses a direct, non-judgemental style so people can talk about what matters to them.

He describes himself as a pluralistic therapist, meaning he draws on different approaches depending on the issue and the person. That can include client-centred ways of working, mindfulness techniques learned through meditation practice, and practical strategies from cognitive behavioural work. He has five years of practice experience and holds NCPS as a listed credential.

Stephen says he values the therapeutic relationship above all. Sessions aim to be collaborative, with the client guiding what feels most important. He offers short in-the-moment mindfulness exercises and paced conversations that look at thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

His background includes work with adults across bereavement, spiritual concerns, sexuality and gender matters, trauma and anxiety. He completed a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy and continues to draw on existential ideas that pay attention to a person’s wider life, values and commitments.

People who choose Stephen can expect clear discussion about goals, practical skills to try between sessions, and space to reflect on difficult feelings. He encourages questions and adapts his approach as needs change.

How his approaches translate to online work

Stephen commonly draws on client-centred work and cognitive behavioural therapy in sessions. Client-centred work focuses on listening, reflecting and following the client's lead to understand what matters most. It helps people who want a supportive space to talk things through. Cognitive behavioural therapy involves noticing unhelpful thoughts and testing small changes in behaviour; it can be useful for anxiety, depression and self-esteem concerns.

Finding the right approach is treated as a joint process. Stephen will discuss goals and preferences, and then suggest which methods to try first. Over time he adjusts the mix of listening, practical exercises and mindfulness based on what the client finds useful.

Session formats are not detailed in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work and family life, reduce travel time and allow for brief check-ins when that suits. It also lets clients use mindfulness exercises and worksheet-style tasks between meetings to build skills in everyday routines.