
I’m Stephen, an integrative therapist based in Bristol, offering sessions in-person and online, as well as walk-and-talk therapy
I provide dedicated help for those encountering anxiety, loss of identity, relationship and attachment struggle, and grief.
I offer a free 30 minute consultation to help decide if you’d like to start working together.
I specialise in working with:
Anxiety and overwhelm – Using a body-informed approach and proactive coaching tools for self-help outside the counselling room, including situations of social anxiety.
Relationship and attachment struggle – Better understanding your specific attachment needs and how to use that awareness to foster healthy and connected relationships. Tools for compassionate communication (grounded in NVC) and for the creation of healthy boundaries.
Loss of identity / direction – Therapy that draws on Person-Centred practice, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and creative practices, to help you attune to your more authentic self, and move forward with meaning and authenticity.
Therapy is a lasting form of self care; a dedicated time to deepen our understanding of who we are and how we relate, creating stronger foundations for growth, connection, and for navigating life’s challenges.
Supportive, Engaging, Integrative
Across psychotherapy there‘s a richness of styles and approaches to working, each offering a valuable lens. I work integratively which means I combine several approaches according to what you want from our sessions, including Person-Centred counselling, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), parts work and existential therapy.
When working with anxiety I use a body informed approach, which invites awareness of the role that the nervous system plays in anxious episodes, and how we can use this awareness to manage anxiety. I also help clients to recognise, understand, and take charge of habitual negative thoughts.
Part of my passion as a therapist comes from making the process of what we do clear, so that you’ll gain value from it beyond our sessions. I offer a mindful and supportive space to explore what brings you to therapy, to help you challenge what might be holding you back, and to move forward in a way that feels right.

Walk and talk therapy

For some, taking therapy outdoors has benefits. If sitting still brings restlessness or discomfort, moving in an outdoor setting can provide a more calming and supportive backdrop. Research shows that walking outdoors increases blood flow and brain activity, which can help process thoughts and emotions more clearly. Walking side by side also reduces the formality of a traditional counselling setting, and at times the natural environment can also play an active part in the therapeutic process.
Training and experience
I’m a qualified counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This means that I work in accordance with a professional framework of working standards, ethics, and commitment to clients, which you can read about here on the BACP website. It also means I’m committed to regular clinical supervision and CPD to maintain a quality of work for clients.
I have a Postgraduate Certificate in Integrative Counselling, and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy from the University of South Wales. Prior to training I have worked as a facilitator with a diverse number of groups ranging from people coming from very marginalised backgrounds to those in the corporate sector. I’ve also worked as a teacher-trainer, a communication consultant, and a music facilitator. Inclusivity is a core value for me, which I adopt in a counselling setting by working transparently and with a mindfulness to difference and diversity.
Rates and session information

My fees are £60 per session (50 minutes).
Where I offer sessions
In person: in St George’s BS5, and Bedminster BS3.
Online, via Zoom, or on the phone.
Walk-and-talk, in green spaces around Bristol. I invite clients to a minimum of two indoor session before working outside.
What to expect in our first session
We’ll spend time discussing what brings you to therapy and go into what you’re looking for in some more detail, including the time-frame you’re thinking of working over and any questions you might have. There are no big expectations of you when meeting for the first time: it’s about seeing if it would feel good to work together, and there’s no obligation to continue after our first session.
After the first session
If we decide to work together, we’ll agree a regular time and place to meet each week. We can also decide on a set number of sessions or leave it more open, and we’ll review our work regularly to ensure you’re getting what you need.
Contact
Email me at stephen.cumberland@gmail.com if you’d like to discuss starting therapy.
I’ll invite you for half-hour meeting to make sure that arranging our first session feels right. There is no cost for this.
