Stephen Padfield, NCPS

Stephen Padfield, NCPS, is a pluralistic therapist who brings a range of therapeutic methods to each client relationship. He holds the NCPS credential, a professional counselling qualification, and recently completed a Master of Arts in Psychotherapy. Stephen believes that different approaches suit different moments in life, and he works to tailor interventions to the needs of each person he sees.

He creates a non-judgemental and supportive space where clients can explore difficult experiences and life questions. Stephen has worked with teenagers and adults across issues such as bereavement, spirituality, sexuality, gender matters, depression, trauma, and anxiety. He values the therapeutic relationship as central to change and aims to build trust while respecting each client as an individual.

Stephen has trained in mindfulness and offers practical in-the-moment techniques informed by meditation practices and polyvagal theory to help regulate stress and build awareness. He also draws on existential ideas that consider the whole person within their physical, social, personal, and spiritual worlds. This combination of practical skills and broader reflection supports clients working through loss, identity questions, and emotional difficulty.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online care

Stephen draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness approaches to guide online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating an accepting, empathetic therapeutic relationship that helps people explore their feelings and values and supports personal growth. CBT is a practical, skills-based approach that helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns often linked to anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness therapy introduces simple awareness and breathing practices that can reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation, useful for trauma responses, anxiety, and everyday stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Stephen collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and he adapts techniques over time as circumstances change. This collaborative stance helps clients feel involved and supported in shaping their care.

Online therapy offers flexible options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, so clients can choose what suits their schedule and comfort level. These formats make it easier to maintain consistent work, attend sessions from home or elsewhere, and access therapists when in-person meetings are not possible, while still benefiting from evidence-based approaches and the support of licensed professionals.