Meet our therapists
There are seven therapists at the Centre. Six of whom are trained and accredited Human Givens practitioners, and one therapist who is a BACP Person Centred counsellor. All the therapists have a passion for helping their clients to get their lives working again as quickly as possible.
Every therapist is experienced in working with: stress, depression, anxiety, self-harm, panic attacks, phobias, trauma and PTSD, sleep problems, addictions, eating disorders and weight management, relationship issues, pain management and bereavement.
Additionally, some therapists have particular areas of interest which are mentioned in their biographies below.
Each therapist is self-employed and works at the Centre as a therapist in their own right.
The quickest way to make an appointment is to book direct with your chosen therapist.
Find out what to expect from a session here.
Ingrid Steele
Co-Owner of York Human Givens Wellbeing Centre
Accredited pyscotherapist, York
Ingrid is at the centre on Mondays & Wednesdays and has availability for new clients
Ingrid works with adults, couples, families & children aged 10 years and upwards
Mobile: 07753835395
Email: ingridsteele.hg@gmail.com
Ingrid steele
Ingrid has been working in the private sector supporting people and organisations since 2008, after 14 years working in mental health services and at the Department of Health. She is a qualified psychotherapist, coach and organisational development facilitator: a narcissism aware therapist, trained also in mediation, restorative practice, mindfulness, emotional intelligence and NLP. Outside of everyday practice, she also co-chairs the York Peer Group for HG Therapists.
Ingrid’s approach is calm, warm and approachable. Her aim is help you fell comfortable being yourself, speaking your mind and achieving what you want out of therapy. She works sensitively and respectfully with you whatever you’re experiencing, be it a longstanding issue or recent experience of anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, dissociative disorder, self harm or eating difficulties.
Ingrid also has experience working with young people and adults with neurodivergence like ADHD and autism, and gender dysphoria.
It is important that the sessions give you the space to understand what is happening and then support you in the process of what you can do to resolve your situation and live your life in better balance. She will focus with you on building awareness, insight, clear goals and genuine confidence about yourself and your future.
Work tends to involve learning lots about how the brain and body works, and how we can learn to feel safe and secure within ourselves as a foundation to our relationship with others.
She holds an enhanced DBS certificate and takes both direct and NHS referrals.
Emma Grey
Co-Owner of York Human Givens Wellbeing Centre
Accredited Psychotherapist
Emma works from the centre on Thursdays (and online) and is accepting new client requests
Emma accepts clients of all ages, from children, young adults to older adults and whole families.
Email: emma@tlclincs.com
Emma is a highly experienced Psychotherapist who divides her time between training, lecturing, supporting peer supervision groups and offering private therapy. She has specialist training in various types of neuro-divergence and (being neuro-divergent herself) has a compassionate approach to support and coach clients (and their family members) to thrive in their environments.
She is an energetic, vibrant and flexible therapist, who values and upholds the client focus first and foremost in the therapeutic relationship. She approaches sessions in an authentic way, being honest, and open, offering clients the opportunity to discuss sensitive issues with ease. Sessions can be face to face, virtual or walking therapies, depending upon need and suitability.passionate about demonstrating good mental health practices to clients (and their families), so they may flourish at any age, with any neuro-divergence or learning difficulty.
Emma works therapeutically with many organisations through Employee Assistance Programmes, and with the charity PTSD Resolution, supporting veterans and their families. She also accepts self-referrals and clients funding through some insurers and private health insurers. ADHD Coaching can also be accessed through the DWP ‘Access To Work’ programme. Please note that, there is often a 4 - 6 week lead time for appointments. She has worked with Children’s Services in many Local Authorities, to offer families in need (open/at risk of Supervision Orders) specialist treatment, whilst managing the safeguarding issues within Social Work Teams. Emma also works with Adoption and Post Adoption Support Teams. She has dedicated the majority of her capacity to this area of therapy and in December 2020. She has a multipage article published (Human Givens Journal) on the value of an integrated approach between the client and multi-agency support.
Emma’s qualifications include a Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis, Diploma in Stress Management, Accredited ADHD Coach, Accredited ADHD Assessor, Human Givens Post-Graduate Diploma (HG Dip) and Human Givens Psychotherapy, Master of Arts (MA)
Professional Membership : MHGI
Caroline Docherty
Accredited psychotherapist, york
Caroline is accepting new clients and available at the centre on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Caroline accepts bookings from teenagers 16+, adults and couples.
Mobile: 07535 603073
Email: caroline.docherty@outlook.com
caroline docherty
Caroline is an experienced Human Givens Therapist, with a warm, compassionate and collaborative approach. From the first session she aims for her clients to feel a sense of hope and a way froward. Creating a supportive space, where each person’s experiences are recognised and valued. She is committed to creating a therapeutic relationship with her clients that fosters personal growth, healing and lasting change.
She successfully helps those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, loss, addiction, phobias, fears and other issues, facilitating long-lasting change. Working with clients who seek personal growth or aim to enhance their overall quality of life, by offering support when navigating a specific challenge, making a difficult decision or finding clarity in their lives.
One of Caroline’s areas of expertise lies in working with relationship difficulties. She offers a straightforward approach for both individuals and couples facing relationship challenges, including communication issues, intimacy, trust and connection concerns, helping them to find solutions and build healthier, happier relationships.
As a neurodiversity-affirming therapist, Caroline values, supports and recognises the unique strengths and perspectives of neurodivergent individuals. She is also trained in working with neurodiverse relationships.
With a previous career in business and management, this gives Caroline valuable insights into workplace dynamics. She gives empathetic support to those aiming to achieve a healthier work-life balance, manage stress and improve overall wellbeing in the workplace.
Caroline is also a counsellor at a charity supporting women in York and North Yorkshire.
Sandra Harrison
Accredited psychotherapist, york
Sandra works at the Centre every Tuesday and has availability for new clients
Sandra accepts bookings from teenagers 17+ and adults
Mobile: 07951 504604
Email: sandraharrison.yhg@gmail.com
sandra harrison
Sandra’s working life started with over twenty years’ experience of training and development, change management, and one-to-one management support in a variety of sectors. These include travel, import/export, owner-run businesses, education and other not-for-profit organisations. She has taken opportunities to travel and work abroad and has lived in France and Africa. She has always been interested in why people do the things they do, and was a teenager when she first thought we don’t listen to one another properly, although it wasn’t until 2005 that she started studying counselling and psychology. The final decision for a career change came about when she discovered the positive, effective approach of Human Givens therapy. She particularly liked its practical, research-based focus, building on a person’s strengths to help them find more beneficial ways to deal with issues and move on quickly with their lives.
Sandra enjoys the variety of working with people with the wide range of issues and difficulties that inevitably arise from stress, anxiety and trauma. Her voluntary roles include working for a woman’s charity, helping with different issues stemming from such as social anxiety, neurodiversity, relationship problems and historic or current domestic abuse. She also has experience of helping frontline healthcare workers, military veterans and those with painful or terminal illnesses.
Sandra holds an enhanced DBS certificate and takes both direct and NHS referrals.
Stephanie Wood
Accredited Person centred psychotherapist, york
Stephanie is available at the centre on saturdays and is accepting new clients
Stephanie accepts bookings from clients aged 16+ and adults
mobile: 07956019328
email: stephwood.hg@outlook.com
Stephanie wood
Stephanie is a warm, compassionate counsellor, who offers a calm space where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings openly, and at their own pace. The Person-Centred approach is rooted in the belief that each person is the expert in their own life, and that therapy can be a powerful way to reconnect with inner resources, build emotional resilience, and move forward with greater clarity.
Stephanie’s approach to therapy is collaborative and client-centred. Rather than providing ready-made solutions or instructions, She works alongside you to help you feel truly heard, reflect on your experiences, and uncover your own insights. Each session is tailored to your own unique needs, moving at a pace that feels right for you and focussing on what matters most in your life.
Life can sometimes feel overwhelming, like a series of hurdles that leave you feeling temporarily stuck or uncertain. Whether you’re navigating work stress, relationship struggles, a life transition, grief, low confidence or self esteem, anxiety, or juggling the everyday pressures of life, Stephanie can offer compassionate support to older teens and adults in a safe, non judgemental space.
Before becoming a counsellor, Stephanie trained as an actor and worked for many years in the assurance sector and school administration. While those roles were valuable, it was her own experience of therapy during a challenging period in her life that led to a profound realisation, prompting her to retrain as a therapist while balancing work and family life.
Her background in the performing arts gives her a unique perspective on the insecurities and identify challenges often faced by creative individuals. She enjoys working with clients in those fields to reconnect with their strengths, grow in self-awareness, and move towards a greater sense of personal freedom and emotional wellbeing.
Stephanie is a fully qualified Person-Centred Counsellor, gaining a SEG level 4 Diploma in therapeutic counselling. In addition, she is currently working towards her Part One Human Givens Diploma. She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), holds an enhanced DBS certificate and accepts both NHS and self referrals.
Colin Mawhinney
Accredited psychotherapist, york
Colin is NOt accepting new clients, but is available at the centre on wednesdays for existing clients
Colin accepts bookings from adults and couples.
Mobile: 07544 844685
Email: colinmawhinney@icloud.com
colin mawhinney
Colin grew up in Belfast, but has lived in Yorkshire for 30 years. He has a background in behaviour change at all levels in the public and private sector, communities and in the health sector. This has provided him with both the breadth and depth of experience for tackling stress and career development issues arising in the workplace and any resulting strain on family life. This includes a deep understanding of the stress and burn out experienced from starting and running a service or a business and how this can be reduced.
Colin qualified as an Human Givens Therapist in 2012 and has successfully worked with a wide variety of clients facing many differing challenges, including anxiety and depression, trauma, addiction, phobias and in particular, stress issues related to the workplace such as support to assist clients to return to work.
He has a particular interest in the resolution of conflicts in relationships and is a trained and qualified mediator. He has specialisms in family relationship mediation including intergenerational and adult-sibling dispute resolution, in addition to couples counselling and support. He also provides mediation and advice for dispute resolution in the workplace.
Colin is a qualified Mindfulness teacher, having cared for a terminally ill relative, and has run courses in mindfulness for stress at a number of charities in Yorkshire over the past twelve years. This includes a particular focus on working with stress that results from chronic pain and fatigue. Colin also has experience of working with military veterans, nurses and police.
Colin is a qualified Supervisor with the Human Givens Institute and has provided clinical supervision to health professionals at a local hospice in Leeds and a drug and alcohol services centre in York.
Patrick Ault
Accredited psychotherapist, york
Patrick is available at the centre on adhoc basis and is happy to accept new client enquiries
Patrick accepts bookings from teenagers 14+, adults and couples.
Email: patrickrhb@gmail.com
patrick ault
Patrick grew up in the heart of the East Anglian countryside and has always loved being close to nature. He has enjoyed travelling and has worked and lived both on Scyros Island, Greece and in Northern Italy.
He was employed in the NHS for over 15 years to help young people and their families to manage hospital treatments. As a result, he has gained a good understanding of how to inspire young people to make good use of challenging situations. He therefore, has practical experience in how to help you quickly reduce fear, harness your own innate resources and move forward into greater well-being.
Patrick has been able to help many people achieve goals that they, and others, really did not believe could be possible at the outset. Furthermore, he believes that good therapy is a matter of maximising strengths and discovering better and better ways to create changes that naturally brighten the present and uplift the future.
Consequently, you may find the experience of therapy as one of great relief, discovering that there really is nothing wrong with you as a person; the depression, the OCD, the shame, the fear, are symptoms of something impersonal; survival mechanisms, common to man, that have gone awry. With the right information, the right help, given at the right time, life opens up, vision clears and the future is meaningful.
Claire Morris
Email: therapy@humangivenswellbeing.co.uk
claire morris
“The therapy style is open, clear and honest- most importantly it helps me to feel better after each session.”
“The therapy brought fast relief to my daughter, who has been suffering with panic attacks since the Covid lockdown.”
“I have spent time on my own in places I never thought I would go... I feel that the grieving is getting less and the second anniversary went by a lot easier than I thought. I feel I am only in this place because of all your help and support. Thank you.”
“I know for a fact I would have really struggled to cope with the demands of my job without the tools you have equipped me with.”
Effective Counselling and Psychotherapy Checklist
It is a good idea to use the following checklist (prepared by the ethical committee of the European Therapy Studies Institute) to protect yourself – or someone you know – from ineffective or even harmful types of counselling and psychotherapy:
An effective psychotherapist or counsellor:
- knows how to build rapport quickly with distressed people
- understands depression and how to lift it
- helps immediately with anxiety problems including trauma or fear related symptoms
- is prepared to give advice if needed or asked for
- will not use jargon or tell you that counselling or psychotherapy has to be 'painful'
- will not dwell unduly on the past
- will be supportive when difficult feelings emerge, but will not encourage people to get emotional beyond the normal need to 'let go' of any bottled up feelings
- may assist you to develop your social skills so that your needs for affection, friendship, pleasure, intimacy, connection to the wider community etc. can be better fulfilled
- will help you to draw and build on your own resources (which may prove greater than you thought)
- will be considerate of the effects of counselling on the people close to you
- may teach you to relax deeply
- may help you think about your problems in new and more empowering ways
- uses a wide range of techniques as appropriate
- may ask you to do things between sessions
- will take as few sessions as possible
- will increase your self confidence and independence and make sure you feel better after every consultation
