Steph is a multi-skilled acting coach, performance director and psychotherapist who in 2015 as part of her masters research began developing a more embodied, holistic, yet real-world approach to actor coaching. In 2017 Steph launched stephpower.com – with much appreciated encouragement from fellow WAAPA grad Hugh Jackman.
Actors and Managers can access a dual service framework for Performer Care: Advanced Actor Coaching and/or Actor Wellbeing Counselling. Actor Coaching provides advanced character coaching with embodied behavioural psychology, actor-specific performance direction, audition and screen schedule preparation. Actor Wellbeing Counselling provides a person-centred approach to actors and their work – whether its for personal or mental health issues, de-roling from character work, or tackling work fatigue or career problems – Steph promotes a team support system by referring to allied health care professionals and other key trainers.
Steph’s approach to Actor Coaching “I like to simplify acting craft to immediate access for actors. Real people engage their mental, emotional and physical systems in an interactive manner – so I like to get straight to acting through this very real-world behavioural psychology. Many acting coaches or schools mystify an elongate the understanding of acting craft discussing the craft in components – the brain is left struggling to understand the spaghetti of information, creating performative and not connected acting. Who wants to see an actor portray a character when they can be trained to become a character? I coach actors back to real impulse via natural psycho-physical-emotive behaviour, I coach actors to trust the process, develop their acting instrument, confidently sit in vulnerability, in their own confidence as an actor. My coaching creates real change towards your craft access, empowering you in your work and career.”
Steph’s approach to Actor Counselling – “At the cradle of all actor’s work is vulnerability – without it actors cannot access emotions, gain empathy and self-awareness, or find the courage for risk taking. I love working with actors on their own deeply personal journeys in life, allowing them to flex a greater capacity and strength in understanding and meaning of themself, other people, and the world in which they live – this self-awareness, self-understanding and self-actualisation becomes a profound tool for actors who seek to live and work with intention. Actors do not need to ‘suffer for their art’ to be great actors. All creative minds have particular presentations and sensitivities that are normalised and understood through counselling, helping you to develop new life or career strategies and coping mechanisms to add to your actor toolkit. As a qualified psychotherapist I am bound by ethics and confidentiality, supporting your wellbeing, and preventing harm. My aim is to help you be in command of your self as well as your craft.”