My name is Stephen McCabe. I am an ecotherapy practitioner and writer who is inspired by mythology, tarot, Buddhism and person-centred principles. I do not believe it separating our lives out into unrelated boxes: as such, this humble little biography seeks to embrace all that I do in life, from my therapy work to my writing, as it is all connected.

I grew up in the working-class suburbs of Liverpool, England, and now live in rural Midlothian, Scotland. I adored wild animals as a child, who I would encounter in city parks amongst the broken glass and litter. However, I lost touch with my nature-connection in my adult life. When I was in my late 30’s, I tried my first mindfulness exercises in a local park and it changed my life: it was an awakening to my connection with everything. Little did I know I was practising ecotherapy! Ecotherapy is now at the centre of my therapeutic work, which also encompasses tarot, meditation guidance, counselling and storytelling. It has also led me back into writing, which was my first creative love as a child. My debut novel, Widdershins Around the Mother Tree, is currently looking for a publisher. You can find out more about my publications here (as well as reading a biography specifically related to my writing, if that is why you are here).

I am a fully qualified person-centred counsellor and I am an Accredited Registrant with the National Counselling Society (UK). I have completed the ‘Ten Directions’ ecotherapy certificate run by the Tariki Trust, a year-long course informed by Buddhist psychology. I am proud to have now become one of the core tutors for this amazing training programme.

I am a professional storyteller and author of folktales, a trained meditation guide, ordained Zen Buddhist and I have read Tarot for almost 20 years. All of these interests influence my work. (You can read/watch more about my work with storytelling and ecotherapy in my interview with the Naturally Balanced website here.)

I have run many ecotherapy groups and events in the Lothians, Scotland. I am proud to be the resident ecotherapist at Health All Round, a beautiful community health project based in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh. I have years of experience providing mental health support in counselling settings and I coordinated Scotland’s national LGBT Helpline for almost a decade.

I am fully PVG checked, insured and Outdoor First Aid trained. Feel free to ask to see these documents or copies of my qualifications. I hope to meet you soon, either in person or online!

(Below is a video from Tariki Trust’s 2021 online conference, ‘What is Ecotherapy?’ where I discuss my work.)