About Us

Hi, my name is Abi, and I am a qualified Person Centred Counsellor, registered with the BACP. I am also an Accredited Member of the NCPS.

For me, counselling is a space where the client is given the opportunity to open up whilst feeling heard and held. I believe in creating a relationship between client and counsellor where you feel you can share your experiences and explore your feelings in a confidential and non-judgemental environment.

I am a compassionate, kind and empathic Counsellor who has experience of working with both adults and young people (11+) and of working with different concerns including anxiety, bereavement, relationship issues and self-esteem issues.

I offer both short-term & open-ended counselling, allowing time for us to build a therapeutic relationship and establish a rapport which enables you to feel comfortable sharing your story.

Training & experience:

Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

Experience of counselling at a secondary school, working with young people regarding identity issues, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm & also at Mind, working with adult carers. Currently undertaking training with Herts Rape Crisis (HARSAC)

Steve Diedrick is an exceptional practitioner whose work is grounded in deep lived experience, compassion, and over a decade of professional expertise supporting young people through significant life challenges. His journey, from overcoming adversity to becoming a respected mentor, shapes the powerful, authentic way he connects with those he works with.

Growing up in a tough part of London, Steve faced multiple barriers as a young Black man with undiagnosed dyslexia. Expelled from school and placed in a pupil referral unit, he drifted into youth street crime and felt the weight of limited opportunities. Everything changed at age 17 when he joined an intensive residential programme run by highly skilled professionals and local community volunteers. For the first time, Steve encountered someone who truly saw his potential, and this was the catalyst that transformed his life.

This transformative experience inspired Steve to dedicate himself to helping young people. He later graduated with a BA in Criminology and went on to spend 12 years managing a Behaviour Support Unit within a secondary school, leading a team and supporting hundreds of young people through complex social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties. To date, he has worked with well over a thousand young people across diverse environments including schools, children’s homes, youth centres, prisons, and street-based settings.

Steve’s practice is grounded in trauma-informed care, emotional honesty, and a deep understanding of the realities young people face, because he has lived them. His ability to build trust quickly, create psychologically safe spaces, and speak with both authority and empathy makes him highly effective with young people who are disengaged, misunderstood, or struggling to see their own worth.

In recognition of his outstanding impact, Steve received a Jack Petchey Award in 2017 for his service to young people. He has also developed his own successful mentoring programme and continues to support young people from all backgrounds, including care leavers, asylum seekers, those affected by gangs or exploitation, and young people navigating educational or emotional challenges.

Steve brings a rare combination of lived experience, professional training, and genuine passion to every mentoring relationship. His core commitment is simple but powerful:
helping young people recognise their value, build resilience, and believe in the possibility of a different future.