Relational, Mindful Therapy for the everyday.
Zoë Stephens, MBACP
17 - 19 Chorley New Road,
Bolton, BL1 4QR.
Specialising in Attachment & Trauma and Relationship Therapy for Individuals, Couples, Families and Organisations
Individual Therapy
​Individual therapy is all about you—your needs, your goals, and your journey. It places the focus squarely on you and empowers you to steer the therapy process according to your needs and desires. Instead of the therapist holding all the answers, individual therapy trusts in your own inner wisdom and resilience. Think of it as embarking on a choose your own adventure story together where we'll explore different paths and approaches to see what feels right for you. For example, if you're feeling anxious, we might experiment with grounding techniques. There's no pressure to achieve specific outcomes; instead, we'll collaborate to find what resonates best with you. It's a nurturing space where you can freely explore, grow, and learn how to navigate your emotions in a way that feels authentic to you. Whether we're testing out practical strategies or simply engaging in meaningful conversation, it's a space to decompress and talk things through. Ultimately, it's a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and increased self-awareness and the focus is on empowering you to gain insight and foster positive changes in your life.
Children's & Young Person's Therapy
If you are a parent of a child or young person that would benefit from some therapeutic input, I would first like to offer some reassurance to you. Reaching out to a professional for help may feel very daunting because, as parents, we often like to believe that we should be able to solve every problem and dry every tear for our children. Asking for help is a very brave thing to do and it is only natural to feel the way you do. In my work with this younger age group (5-18), I am experienced in meeting them where they are at in their development and both reinforcing their strengths as well as nurturing their weaknesses. This may be through play, art and creativity or by using technology, such as video games purposefully designed to aid the young person within a therapeutic setting. I am also able to offer remote therapy such as by video-call, email or text message which can be preferable to allow an extra degree of flexibility around their school studies (especially around exam time) and their often busy social lives. The key element here is that the child/young person is inviting me into their world so it would always be wholly person-centred.
Relationship Therapy
"In the silence between spoken words, emotions echo the loudest." I came across this quote on a random Facebook post, and it really struck a chord with me. When communication breaks down in relationships, those emotions don't just fade away. They're there, buzzing around like electricity—equally powerful and hard to ignore. But by diving into those feelings and finding new ways to handle them, relationship therapy can help prevent them from taking over and causing chaos. It's about uncovering what's been hidden and building healthier ways to relate, so life becomes more satisfying and fulfilling. Through therapy, whether it's with friends, family, colleagues, or partners, I can help you learn to navigate these emotions together, strengthening your connections and fostering more harmonious relationships in all aspects of life.
Couples' Therapy
Have you ever experienced a shift in your relationship, where you suddenly question the attraction or connection you once felt? Whether it's discovering hidden secrets or simply seeking a deeper bond, these moments can shake the very foundation of your relationship. If you find yourself in this situation, couples therapy offers a safe and supportive environment to explore these issues. As an integrative therapist, I utilise various approaches, such as Imago, Gottman, Transactional Analysis, and Person-Centred, to help you gain insights, strengthen your connection, and rediscover passion in your relationship. Together, we can navigate through challenges and emerge stronger both as individuals and as a couple.
Trauma
When people think of trauma, their minds often link this with the association of things like war atrocities, natural disasters, witnessing gruesome murders or being the victim of prolonged and systematic abuse. Undoubtedly, these are all classed as acts of trauma but so are things like being involved in a road traffic accident or being the sibling whose parents neglected them because they were the most intelligent or independent of the family. Whatever it is that you've been through, you deserve some inner peace and, through working within a tri-phasic approach of Stabilisation, Trauma Processing and Meaning-Making, I can help you to unlock this inner peace and learn to live the life you so richly deserve.
Inner Child/Reparenting
In our formative years, we rely on nurturing to learn how to navigate life. Yet, for various reasons, this nurturing may be lacking, leading us to adapt to survive. As time passes, these early experiences can manifest as attachment issues, trust issues, and other challenges. Inner child/reparenting therapy, conducted with a trained therapist such as myself, offers a safe space to delve into these patterns. Through this therapy, you can experience care and guidance similar to that of a parental figure, gaining insight into nurturing your inner child. Regular reviews ensure ethical and effective support, increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes. While this therapy may require a longer commitment, it’s particularly beneficial for individuals who have faced extensive childhood trauma or abuse.