Dr Stephanie Lonsdale is an autistic Clinical Psychologist specialising in neurodiversity-affirming assessments and therapy for autistic and neurodivergent adults, including those diagnosed later in life.

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Steph brings both professional and lived experience to her work. She offers a warm, collaborative, and neurodiversity-affirming approach, and is attentive to different communication styles, including where verbal communication may fluctuate or feel difficult at times. She aims to create a space where clients feel understood, respected, and able to explore their experiences at their own pace. She recognises that many individuals have had difficult or invalidating experiences within services and works to offer a therapeutic relationship that feels safe, empowering, and genuinely supportive.

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Therapeutic Approach:

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Steph works flexibly and collaboratively, drawing on a range of evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), compassion focused therapy (CFT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), solution-focused therapy (SFT), and person-centred approaches.

Her work is grounded in neurodiversity-affirming assessments and therapy, and is tailored to each individual, with a focus on understanding personal experiences, strengths, and needs. Therapy may include developing self-understanding, exploring identity, and finding ways of navigating environments that do not always align with neurodivergent needs.

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Steph has a particular interest in supporting autistic individuals navigating menopause and those with caring responsibilities, recognising the additional demands these roles and life stages can bring. She also works with individuals who experience differences in interoception or alexithymia, supporting them to better understand and make sense of their internal experiences. Steph offers a reflective, collaborative space to explore these areas at a comfortable pace, with a focus on developing self-understanding and responding to needs with greater clarity and compassion.

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Specialisms:

• Neurodiversity-affirming assessments and therapy (autism, ADHD, AuDHD) 

• Autistic adults, including late-diagnosed or self-identifying individuals 

• Post-diagnostic support and psychoeducation 

• Anxiety, depression, and autistic burnout 

• Masking, stigma, and feeling misunderstood 

• Identity development and life transitions 

• Autistic individuals navigating menopause 

• Autistic individuals with caring responsibilities

• Adapting therapy to suit communication, sensory and processing differences

 

Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), Lancaster University

• MSc, Cognitive Psychology, Keele University

• BSc (Hons), Psychology, Keele University

• Steph has attended various additional trainings in areas of her specialisms

 

Memberships & Registrations:

• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) – Registered Clinical Psychologist (PYL047951)

• British Psychological Society (BPS) – Chartered Clinical Psychologist (335299)