Work follows you home
You replay conversations, think about tomorrow or check emails when you should be resting.
Private support · Online across the UK
Civil Service stress supportWhen work follows you home.
You may hold everything together during the working day, only to find that you cannot switch off when it ends. Work may now be affecting your sleep, confidence, relationships or physical wellbeing.
Independent of your employer · You do not need to wait until you reach breaking point.
Talk it through
Free 20–30 minute telephone conversationNo pressure · No obligation to book
Inside working life35 years
working within the Civil Service
Frontline roles · Advice · Workplace wellbeing“You should not have to spend half the conversation explaining how a large organisation works.”
Does any of this feel familiar?
There is no single way that work-related stress looks.
Some people become tearful or overwhelmed. Others continue functioning while feeling permanently tense, exhausted or unlike themselves.
Sunday brings dread
The weekend is not over, but your mind has already returned to work and what may be waiting for you.
Your confidence has changed
Criticism, conflict or a difficult manager has left you questioning decisions you once made naturally.
You are frightened of getting it wrong
Probation, targets, performance reviews or the possibility of making a mistake feel constantly present.
You cannot keep absorbing more
Workloads, staff shortages and constant change have left you tense, irritable or emotionally exhausted.
Returning feels overwhelming
You may be away from work because of stress and already worrying about how you will manage going back.
An honest starting point
Sometimes work itself is the problem.
Some workplaces place people under enormous pressure. Workloads may genuinely be excessive, staffing may be inadequate, management may be poor or an organisation may be going through relentless change.
Therapy cannot remove those realities, and I would never suggest that you simply need to become more resilient and learn to tolerate an unhealthy situation.
However, the right support may help you understand how work has begun affecting you, reduce the emotional hold it has outside working hours and think more clearly about what needs to change.
That may mean firmer boundaries, rebuilding confidence, preparing to return—or deciding whether the role is still right for you.
35years inside the DWP
Support from someone who understands working life
I understand the pressure behind the job title.
I have spent 35 years working within the Department for Work and Pensions, including demanding frontline roles, adviser positions and workplace wellbeing work.
I understand targets, changing priorities, difficult conversations, high caseloads, staff shortages and the pressure of trying to provide a good service within a large organisation. I also understand how easily work can continue in your head after your laptop has been switched off.
You will not have to spend the whole appointment explaining how a large organisation operates.
Stephen Therapy is independent of the DWP, the Civil Service and every employer.
Civil Service and public-sector pressure
Your employer does not need to be involved.
Working in the Civil Service, NHS, local government or another public service can mean balancing the needs of the public with strict procedures, limited resources and constantly changing expectations.
New starters may worry about probation or being judged if they admit they are struggling. More experienced employees may feel worn down by years of increasing workloads or change.
You do not need to tell me which department or organisation you work for. You can share only what feels relevant and comfortable.
Independent support
I do not contact your manager, HR department or Occupational Health without your permission, subject to the usual legal and safeguarding limits of confidentiality.
Online across the UK · In person in Stockport01
Nationally visible
Civil Service reading
From the Stephen Therapy blog
Civil Service Stress at Work: Practical Strategies That Help
A straightforward look at the pressure civil servants can carry, practical support already available at work and places to begin when the strain follows you home.
Read the articleHow hypnotherapy may help
It is not about pretending the workplace problem does not exist.
Work-related stress can become connected to perfectionism, fear of criticism, difficulty saying no or believing your worth depends on how well you perform.
Leave work at work
Reduce the habit of replaying events, anticipating problems and carrying the working day into your own time.
Rebuild confidence
Begin responding differently after criticism, conflict, absence or a period of feeling that nothing you do is enough.
Prepare for difficult moments
Feel calmer before meetings, presentations, performance conversations or returning after sickness absence.
Think more clearly
Create enough emotional space to consider boundaries, changes at work or whether you want a different future.
A clear, unhurried process
What happens if you contact me?
You cannot book yourself straight into a therapy session. We speak first.
- 01
We speak privately
A free 20–30 minute telephone conversation gives you space to explain what has been happening and ask questions.
- 02
I understand the situation
If we agree to continue, you complete an intake form. I read it before we meet, so we do not begin with generic questions.
- 03
Your session is personal
We explore the experiences, beliefs and workplace pressures connected to how you feel now, at a manageable pace.
- 04
Support continues afterwards
Your personalised recording uses language meaningful to you. You listen for at least 21 days, with check-ins from me.
Sometimes more than one kind of support is needed
Therapy is one part of the picture.
Depending on your situation, it may also be appropriate to speak to your GP, trade union, manager, HR department or Occupational Health.
If the problem involves discrimination, employment rights or a formal workplace process, you may need specialist employment advice. Therapy does not replace those sources of support; it gives you a private space to consider your wellbeing and choices.
Sessions & Fees
Clear from the start.
First RTT or hypnotherapy session
Usually 2–2½ hours, including your personalised recording and follow-up support.
Further session on the same issue
Usually 90–120 minutes, with a new recording when appropriate.
A £50 appointment deposit forms part of the session price.
Talk it throughCommon questions
Before you decide whether to get in touch…
Is this service only for civil servants?
No. My Civil Service experience helps me understand large, pressured organisations, but this service is available to anyone experiencing work-related stress.
Will my employer be told?
No. This is a private service which you arrange personally. I do not contact your employer without your permission, subject to the usual legal and safeguarding limits of confidentiality.
Can you support me if I am currently off sick?
Yes. Therapy does not replace advice from your GP or Occupational Health, but it may help with the emotional impact of absence and the prospect of returning.
What if I am thinking about leaving my job?
You do not need to have made a decision. We can explore what is affecting you and help you think more clearly. I also offer separate careers advice and coaching support.
Can appointments take place online?
Yes. Online appointments are available throughout the UK. In-person appointments are also available in Stockport.
What if stress affects more than my working life?
If anxiety or stress is present across several areas of your life, the Anxiety & Stress service may be more appropriate. We can talk this through before deciding what best fits your situation.
Begin with a private conversation
You do not have to wait until you reach breaking point.
Tell me a little about what has been happening and ask any questions. We can decide together whether I may be the right person to help.
Talk it throughFree 20–30 minute telephone conversation · No pressure to book