Stephen Padfield, NCPS

Stephen Padfield is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, low mood and difficulties with self-esteem. He works with concerns such as grief, relationship strain, addiction, anger and issues around sexuality and gender. He also supports people facing life transitions and coping with long-term conditions including bipolar and ADHD.

He describes a pluralistic style, drawing on different approaches depending on what each person needs. Sessions aim to feel non-judgemental and supportive so people can talk through what matters to them. Stephen offers practical mindfulness tools and short exercises that can be used between meetings.

Stephen uses client-centred ideas to keep the conversation focused on each person’s experience. Cognitive approaches are available when people want clear strategies for changing thoughts and habits. He also draws on existential thinking to look at meaning, values and how someone fits into their wider life.

He holds an NCPS credential and completed a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy. Stephen has five years' experience working in counselling settings across a range of concerns. He works in the United Kingdom and conducts sessions in English.

Sessions start with a short discussion about what someone hopes to achieve. From there he tailors the mix of listening, practical exercises and mindfulness based techniques to suit the individual. This helps keep therapy relevant and focused on everyday change.

How Stephen’s approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what someone says. Online sessions can still offer a calm, person-led conversation where the counsellor responds to what matters most in the moment. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) provides structured ways to spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviours. In remote work this often means setting clear goals, using short worksheets and practising skills between meetings. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal skills. These skills can be practised and reviewed in sessions and built into a day-to-day plan.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will discuss options and work collaboratively to choose methods that match the client’s needs, goals and preferences. That way techniques are tailored rather than imposed.

Confirm the session formats before booking so you know which options are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports using digital worksheets and on-the-spot mindfulness practices between sessions to build everyday habits and reinforce change.