Stephanie Bushell

My Approach I am trained integratively which means that I have been taught to make use of a number of different approaches to counselling and therapy. I originally trained to work with individuals, then later trained to work with couples, then the full spectrum of relationship types. I am also a qualified psychosexual therapist. 

Since my original training, I've utilised three core therapy approaches. One is psychodynamic therapy. This is a complex approach, but it can be summarised in two main ways: Firstly, it's an approach which aims to help you to understand how your past has impacted the way that you are today. Understanding the 'whys' of your life can help you to have compassion for yourself. This in turn can enable you to make choices that are for your good, instead of ones that might be self destructive. Secondly, psychodynamic therapy seeks to make you more conscious of things that are outside of your awareness, but may nevertheless be having a powerful impact on your life. For example, you may 'find yourself' always having relationships with the same kind of pattern, without fully understanding why. Psychodynamic therapy can help you to become aware of the unconscious motivations that lead you into repeated patterns. This awareness then empowers you to make different choices.

All of this is underpinned by a Person Centred approach, also part of my original training. This is a way of working which focusses on your inherent value as a person and the belief that each individual has the internal resources needed to grow. Person Centred counselling has three core conditions at its foundation: Unconditional Positive Regard - my stance of accepting you just as you are, unconditionally and without judgement; Empathic Understanding - my skills in putting myself in your shoes, seeing the world through your eyes and communicating that to you; and Congruence - my authenticity and genuineness. You will be sitting opposite a human being with a beating heart, not a cold professional facade. My primary training also included the use of cognitive behavioural skills (CBT). I use this to work with phobias and with some psychosexual presentations.

In addition to the above, I have also received extensive training in relationship psychotherapy, which is a primary interest of mine. I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Couple Psychotherapy, and a Diploma in Clinical Sexology & Relationship Therapy. The latter was a CORST accredited and Pink Therapy endorsed course.I work with couples of all sexualities, including open and polyamorous relationships.  

I have been working as a qualified therapist since 2009. During that time I have worked as a therapist in primary schools, universities and various charities.

As well as working as a therapist and supervisor, I work as a lecturer, tutor and assessor on various counselling and psychotherapy courses in London. I am Co-Tutor on the Intimate Partner Therapy Certificate at Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology and I am a Live Assessor at the Minster Centre. I am a Visiting Tutor at Metanoia Institute and I train and supervise NHS therapists to deliver the Couples Counselling for Depression programme.  

I also write (fairly infrequently) on mental health issues, such as on the Huffington Postand The Mighty. My most recent article was published in the Journal of Couple & Family Psychoanalysis.