Steph Colins: A Psychologist in Brighton & Hove
Some things may not feel quite right — but that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. Often, it’s about understanding what feels out of alignment, and why.
I work in and around Brighton and Hove with thoughtful self-aware individuals who feel in caught in patterns they understand, yet can’t shift – offering a deeper, integrative approach to lasting change.
I will not rescue you.
For you are not powerless.
I will not fix you.
For you are not broken.
I will not heal you.
For I see you, in your wholeness.
I will walk with you through the darkness.
As you remember your light.
A Medicine Woman’s Prayer – Sheree Bliss Tilsley
Hi, I’m Steph. A Brighton & Hove Based HCPC-registered Practitioner Psychologist and a graduate member of the British Psychological Society.
Having worked in the field since 2008, I qualified in 2012 and have worked across a range of NHS and charitable settings, supporting people with complex mental health needs.
I have also completed Level 1 training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), which informs my integrative approach to working with different parts of the self.
My work is supported by ongoing professional development, supervision, and clinical experience.
My approach
Primarily, my way of working is integrative, which increasingly has evolved to include not only psychological understanding, but also an awareness of how experiences are held within the body.
I integrate elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS), which understands the mind as made up of different “parts” – for example, parts the protect; parts that feel vulnerable; and parts that carry past experiences. I also draw on schema-informed ideas to explore enduring patterns of beliefs that may have developed earlier in life, and which can continue to shape how you relate to yourself, others and the world.
This can help you develop a more compassionate and curious relationship with yourself, rather than feeling stuck in conflict or self-criticism. Sometimes this can feel like everything has been held together, coping for years– until it isn’t. This can bring feelings of helplessness or hopelessness at times, but it can also mark the beginning of something important. I am continually struck by the resilience people carry, even when they feel at their most uncertain.
If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected or at a point of questioning in your life, therapy can offer a space to begin making sense of that – and to explore what might come next.
I tend to work best with people who are open to reflecting on their experience, even if parts of that feel unclear at first. We can work in a way that feels right for you — at a pace that allows for both understanding and meaningful change.
Alongside talking therapy, I also offer integrative approaches that work more directly with the body, for those who feel this may be helpful. This allows for a flexible way of working, depending on your needs and preferences.