Stephen May provides therapy, counselling and mentoring for:
* individuals
* couples
* families
* and (through the Institute for Story-Guided Therapy & Mentoring) large organisations such as schools and universities.
“The emphasis of my and my colleagues’ work is post-traumatic growth – in other words, normalising the experience of mental health challenges and finding in them an opportunity to move on with greater wisdom, with a greater appreciation for life.
My practice draws from many disciplines and sources of training, including: the Gottman Institute for Couples Therapy, The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine, and most importantly my work as the Director of The Institute for Story-Guided Therapy & Mentoring.
I have over forty years of experience using the reframing of narrative in therapeutic settings – working with: traumatised children, survivors from civil wars, on outreach programmes with organisations such as the British Film Institute, and as a consultant training other therapists through the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists (BACP).
I am a teacher, psychologist, certified therapist and film-maker. My career has followed twin paths from the get go: creative work as a storyteller (theatre, film, TV), and the use of story in therapeutic settings.
I’m strongly influenced by a nomadic life, particularly in childhood – I was brought up in East Germany, Libya, Scotland, England, Dubai (when it was just desert) and Saudi Arabia. As an adult I’ve worked all over the world, including Spain, Central America, the United States and in the Middle East. I attended 14 schools, at last count, and was only thrown out of one. I’ve got a couple of degrees from the University of Oxford and I’ve taught there – but I’ve learned much more from my three children and being gently beaten-up by life on a regular basis. I profoundly believe in a glass-half full approach to even the most challenging of circumstances – and continue to be amazed by the ability of humans to rise out of “impossible” challenges, stronger than ever.”
If you are an individual, couple or family that thinks you might benefit from working with Stephen – please contact us for an initial consultation.