“It has been the most enlightening experience of my life and has enabled me to explore and develop in more ways than I thought possible. I constantly tell friends or colleagues that they should have a hour with Steph, although I cannot explain how or what she does, all I can is say is I’m happier now than I have been for over 10 years.”
CLIENT, 2017

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate (PGDip/ PGCert) in Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP accredited course) – The University of Salford
Graduate Certificate in Counselling – The University of Salford
BSc (Hons) – First Class degree including Grosvenor Prize Award for Best Final Year Student – Leeds Beckett University
Higher National Diploma – Distinction (The University of Salford)
Certificate in Couples Psychotherapy
Transactional Analysis (TA101) – Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy
Certificate in Coaching
Level 7 Certificate in CBT
Understanding Autism – The Open University
Psychology – The Open University
Certificate in Online Working – Online Therapy Institute
Counter-transference & Object Relation Theory – The Horsforth Centre
Certificate in Panic Attacks
Specialist in Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Complex PTSD/ PTSD, Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD 1) also known as High Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome
Certificates in Bereavement, Grief and Loss
Safeguarding Adults
Safeguarding Children
Equality and Diversity
Essentials of Information Governance
Clinical Audit (Tameside & Glossop PCT)
End of Life and Palliative Care (Macmillan Cancer Support)
The Yoga of Relationships: Exploring Connection and Sexuality Through the Lens of the Soul (Love Serve Remember Foundation)
Reawakening The Mind of a Child: Loving Kindness (Zen Buddhism Course)
Reiki Holistic Practitioner (including First and Second Degree in Usui Reiki)
PRINCE2™ Project Management Foundation and Practitioner
Institute of Leadership and Management – Management/ Mentoring Training
EXPERIENCE:
Director of MIND Manchester Mental Health Charity
Director of Healthwatch Oldham (Public Health)
Deputy Manager & Lead Counsellor at Oldham Carers Centre (Adult Social Care Service)
Counselling Co-ordinator/ Family Support Lead at Willow Wood Hospice
Counsellor at the Manchester and Salford Counselling Service (MASCS)
Counsellor at AGE UK Tameside
Founder of the Autistic Professional Network
Featured in The Guardian, Psychotherapy & Politics International (Wiley), Therapy Today (BACP), Counselling Directory, The Counsellor’s Café Magazine, Psychreg, KEIA Wellbeing, Manchester Evening News, Medium, Sounds Magazine.
Author of book on autism, mental health and therapy due for publication Autumn 2023 with Jessica Kingsley Publishing
Decades of experience within project and change management, leadership, governance, supervision and mentoring
Course Author and Lead Trainer on Mindfulness, Introduction to CBT, Stress Reduction, Bereavement, Grief and Loss programmes delivered across the UK
Director of Community Network 4 Manchester (CN4M)
Member of the Association of Bereavement Service Co-ordinators (ABSCo)
Board Member on Domestic Abuse Management Group – Manchester City Council
ASSURANCES:
Accredited Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Approved by Accredited Register Scheme (Professional Standard Authority)
Member of the National Autistic Society
Enhanced DBS
Fully insured through Holistic Insurance
Registered with the Information Commissioners Office and GDPR compliant
I work within the ethical frameworks of both my membership organisations and am bound by their professional conduct procedures
Trauma-informed practice
Fully supervised by senior clinical practitioner
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Each year I am required to complete a minimum of 30hrs CPD as a condition of my professional membership, a figure which I regularly exceed.
Like everyone I am flawed, imperfect and human (thank goodness!) and in order to feel as clear and resolved as possible for the health of my practice I choose to work on myself through study, personal development, meditation and clinical supervision.
Over the years I have engaged in a great deal of personal therapy and passionately believe that a therapist’s lived experience should be regarded as the most important item in their professional toolbox.
I continue to write and campaign on this topic.