Mr Stephen Moore
Psychotherapist, Counsellor
Inner Strength Therapy
Sydney, NSW 2000
In Person + Online Therapy
Philosophy & Vision
I believe therapy is less about asking “What’s wrong with you?” and more about understanding “What happened to you?” I work primarily with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, shame, relationship difficulties and the lasting effects of childhood abuse, neglect or difficult early experiences. Sometimes the impact comes not only from what happened, but from what we needed and didn’t receive. My approach is warm, collaborative and trauma-focused. While understanding your story is important, insight alone doesn’t always change how we feel. I work with both the mind and body, helping you understand the patterns that developed to protect you, process unresolved experiences and create lasting change in how you feel, respond and relate to yourself and others. Therapy is tailored to you, with the aim of helping you feel more connected to yourself, more secure in your relationships and less shaped by the past.
Background
I came to psychotherapy after an earlier career in science, management and the corporate world, bringing with me an understanding of the pressures of work, relationships and everyday life. I completed my Master of Counselling & Applied Psychotherapy in 2013 and have worked in private practice since then. Over the years, my work has increasingly focused on trauma, anxiety, childhood abuse and neglect, attachment and relationship difficulties. I have continued to undertake advanced training in trauma-focused and experiential therapies, particularly EMDR, which is now a central part of my clinical practice.
Services
I specialise in working with trauma, anxiety, childhood abuse and neglect, shame, attachment and relationship difficulties. Sometimes the impact of trauma comes from what happened to us, and sometimes from what we needed but did not receive, such as safety, protection, affection or emotional connection.
My approach goes beyond simply understanding why you feel the way you do. I use trauma-focused and experiential therapies, with EMDR as a central part of my practice, alongside Attachment-Informed EMDR, somatic psychotherapy, IFS-informed parts work and Resource Therapy. Therapy is tailored to you, helping you process unresolved experiences, understand the patterns that may once have helped you cope, and create integrated changes.
Quality Provision
I aim to provide therapy that is professional, compassionate and tailored to each person rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Sessions are available in person from my Sydney CBD practice or online, providing flexibility depending on your location and circumstances. I am committed to ongoing professional development and regularly undertake advanced training in trauma-focused therapies to ensure my practice remains informed by current clinical knowledge and ethical standards.
Areas of Interest
Accreditations
- Masters In Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy - 2012 - Jansen Newman Institute
- Bachelor of Science Majoring in Biochem and Micro - 1990 - Otago University
Modalities
CBT - EMDR - Existential - Gottman Method - Inner Child - Integrative - Internal Family Systems - Narrative Therapy - Person Centred - Psychodynamic - Resource Therapy - Somatic Psychotherapy - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I want to help others come to terms with their pain and trauma. I bring with me compassion, empathy, understanding and most importantly, a listening ear. Taking the first step and reaching out is not always easy, it will require courage and commitment, but together we can explore and work through the issues that are holding you back in your life.
Professional Associations
- EMDRAA
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - Clinical
Practice Locations
Suite 1007, 185 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
I am located within working distance of Town Hall, Museum and St James stations. The building is opposite Hyde park near the Sheraton on the Park. As well as the entrance on Elizabeth St you can also enter at 160 Castlereagh Street.
Appointments
Appointments are available Monday to Friday, with daytime and evening sessions available. I offer both in-person appointments from my Sydney CBD practice and online sessions throughout Australia.
Fees & Insurance
Individual sessions for 50 mins are $200 (plus gst) with the sessions occurring on a weekly or fortnightly basis. If you prefer to pay upfront for 6 or 10 sessions where you will save $10 per session.
Payment Options
You can pay with Visa, Mastercard or Amex. You can also do bank transfer or pay in cash in person. With online sessions an invoice will be emailed and this can be paid with a debit or credit card.
Contact Stephen
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Stephen Moore
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I’ve always been curious about people and what shapes who we become. My own life experiences also taught me that understanding what happened to us can be very different from actually healing from it. That led me to psychotherapy and, over time, to specialise in trauma-focused approaches that work beyond talking alone. I find it incredibly rewarding to see people begin to understand themselves differently, let go of patterns they may have carried for years, and discover strengths within themselves they may not have realised were there.
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My work has been strongly influenced by trauma-informed, attachment-based, somatic and parts-based approaches to psychotherapy. I’m particularly drawn to the idea that our difficulties often make sense when we understand the experiences and relationships that shaped us. Narrative Therapy has also influenced how I think about people, particularly the belief that “the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem.” Rather than asking what is wrong with someone, I’m much more interested in understanding what happened to them, how they adapted, and what they may no longer need to carry.
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I’m particularly interested in how our early experiences and relationships shape the way we see ourselves, regulate our emotions and connect with others later in life. I’m fascinated by the ways people adapt to difficult experiences, and how patterns that once helped us survive or maintain connection can eventually leave us feeling stuck. Much of my work explores trauma, attachment, shame, relationships and the connection between mind, body and nervous system. Most importantly, I’m interested i
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My main therapeutic approach is EMDR, including Attachment-Informed EMDR, particularly when working with trauma and unresolved experiences. I also integrate somatic psychotherapy, IFS-informed parts work, Resource Therapy, Narrative Therapy and therapeutic breathing techniques. I don’t believe one approach suits everyone, so I tailor therapy to the individual, sometimes working through conversation and understanding, and at other times working more directly with emotional, relational and nervous-system responses.
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Progress is different for everyone. Some people begin to notice changes within the first few sessions, particularly as they gain a better understanding of themselves and their patterns. With deeper trauma work, change can take more time and isn’t always linear. I look for progress not only in symptom reduction, but in how you respond to triggers, relate to yourself and others, and whether experiences that once felt overwhelming begin to have less power over you.
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Therapy has made an enormous difference in my own life. It helped me understand how experiences from earlier in life had shaped the way I saw myself, related to others and responded to the world around me. More importantly, it taught me that understanding why we are the way we are is only part of the journey. Experiencing therapy myself has given me a deep respect for the courage it can take to be vulnerable, face painful experiences and make meaningful changes. It has also strongly influenced the kind of therapist I have become.
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What I value most is being able to walk alongside someone as they begin to understand themselves differently and see that the patterns they have struggled with often developed for very understandable reasons. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the moment something shifts, when an experience that has carried pain or shame for years begins to lose its power. I also feel privileged by the trust people place in me when they share parts of their lives they may never have felt able to share before. Seeing someone become more connected to themselves and able to live with greater freedom is what makes this work so meaningful to me.
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Absolutely! Like everyone, I have good days, bad days and definitely bad hair days. I think being human is an important part of being a therapist. I don’t pretend to have life completely figured out, and I’m always learning and growing too. A little humour and not taking ourselves too seriously can be just as important as the deeper work.
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I think one of the greatest challenges we face is increasing division in society. We seem to be becoming more disconnected from one another at a time when we need connection and community more than ever. Alongside this, loneliness and social isolation are having a profound impact on our wellbeing. I’m also deeply concerned about our relationship with the environment and the impact we are having on the planet. For me, these issues are connected. How we relate to each other, our communities and the world around us matters. I think we need more connection, compassion and a greater sense of responsibility for one another and the environment we share.
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Babette Rothschild’s The Body Remembers was an important book for me. It was one of the first books that really helped me understand that trauma is not just something held in our thoughts and memories, but can also be reflected in our body and nervous system. That understanding significantly influenced the direction of my work and my interest in trauma therapies that go beyond talking alone.