Life can feel overwhelming at times and it can be hard to find the way forward. Therapy can help you to understand yourself on a deeper level and unlock the door to making changes, leading to a more fulfilling, meaningful & contented life.
It can be difficult to share your troubles and fears with the people in your life. Working with a therapist offers a safe, nurturing relationship where you can confide in someone who is fully engaged, present and attuned to your needs – someone who is professionally trained, experienced and able to help you explore whatever is troubling you in an empathetic and non-judgemental way. I do believe (and have experienced and witnessed) that change is possible.
Therapeutic Counselling with Steve Peters MBCAP
My aim is always to provide a safe, warm and trusting space where you feel able to share your personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. It is an interactive, relational process, where you will be truly heard and supported, but also challenged to move through the limiting behaviours which may have been necessary or effective in the past, but which no longer serve you.
I am an integrative counsellor, which means that I use a range of therapeutic techniques to best meet the unique individual needs of each person I work with. My approach is informed by elements of Humanistic, Psychodynamic and CBT theories, and I offer Trauma-informed Somatic tools and techniques when appropriate.
Our focus may be on earlier experiences which have shaped your way of being in the world, or it may be more effective to look at the here and now. Often it can be both.
Therapy can be short term or open-ended depending on your needs, and we can discuss this along the way.
A few of the areas I regularly work with include:
Anxiety; Anxiety can severely affect our ability to function and thrive in our lives, and can be exhausting and isolating. Taking a multi-pronged approach we can identify the triggers and the underlying causes, exploring new ways of being and more effective coping strategies.
People-pleasing & conflict avoidance; These patterns limit our choices and mean we’re often just surviving rather than thriving in life. We can work towards finding a more authentic way of being which can lead the way to becoming the person we want to be.
Trauma; Whether PTSD or Childhood/Developmental trauma, ‘Big T or Small t’, great care is required when working in this area. I have a thorough training in trauma treatment, following the work of luminaries such as Judith Herman, Peter Levine & Bessel Van Der Kolk. This includes somatic resourcing for emotional regulation, essential for the processing and integration work to take place in a safe, ethical and effective way.
Performers/Creative Arts; Having spent many years in the music and theatre industries, I have an experiential understanding of some of the issues unique to this lifestyle. I often work with musicians, actors, writers, directors & other performers/creators to explore their personal issues and challenges.
The effects of Boarding School; Through my work with ex-boarders, I’ve become increasingly interested in how early detachment from the family home and the need to find strategies for survival can mean it is difficult to form close, intimate relationships later in life. Extensive studies & further training informs my work with this client group, many of whom feel conflicted about the privilege with which a private education is associated, while having suffered through it.
Life transitions; At some points in life we may face significant changes in our lives. A bereavement or illness in the family, divorce, a career change or moving location can be emotionally challenging, bringing up feelings of loss, sadness, insecurities, doubts and fears, and questions around identity. Therapy can help explore these changes and what they mean for you as you find ways to adapt to a new life.
A more comprehensive list of issues with which I have experience:
- Anxiety and Panic
- Depression and low-mood
- Addictive/compulsive behaviours
- Stress
- Anger
- Trauma
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self-harm
- Shame
- Low self-esteem
- Boarding School experiences
- Relationship difficulties
- Career issues
- Bereavement
- Performance/Creative issues
- Life changes
- Illness
- Finding purpose & meaning in life
- Identity
- Loneliness
Qualifications, Training and Background:
I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and am a fully qualified Integrative Therapist:
- Level 5 Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, CPCAB
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling, CPCAB
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling, CPCAB
- Certificate of Proficiency BACP
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling BACP
- Bereavement Training, St Christopher’s Hospice
I also hold a BA Hons in English Literature with Social Sciences and a Teacher’s Diploma (LTCL) from Trinity College of Music.
I adhere to the BACP’s ethical guidelines and standards which includes ongoing supervision and continued professional development. I undertake regular further training to support my practice, as I continually work to develop and deepen my knowledge and experience.
I have worked as a counsellor for a number of agencies and charities. Currently, alongside my private practice, I work as a bereavement counsellor, helping people who are coming to terms with grief and loss.
Contact:
I offer a free initial twenty minute phone call or Zoom meeting, in which we can discuss what you’re looking for, as well as giving you an opportunity to ask any questions about how the process might work. If you feel happy to proceed, we can then arrange a first session together.
Rates:
£80 for a 50-minute session.
Sessions & Locations:
Psychotherapy sessions at City Therapy Space:
Thursday
Directions to City Therapy Space
Psychotherapy sessions at Barnsbury Therapy Space:
Monday
