02 Jul 2026
Mary Hayman, Counselling & Complex Need Regional Team Lead at The Forward Trust, shares how Step by Step Therapy at HMP Bronzefield is helping women access meaningful psychological support, proving that even a single conversation can be the start of positive change.
Many women arriving at HMP Bronzefield face uncertainty about both their future and how long they will remain in custody. For those on remand, time can be limited, making it difficult to access traditional counselling programmes that often require a longer period of support.
That's why the substance misuse counselling service at HMP Bronzefield introduced Step by Step Therapy, a model designed to make support more accessible and ensure every conversation has the potential to make a meaningful difference.
By helping women recognise their strengths, build confidence and access support when they need it most, the service aims to support positive change regardless of how long someone remains in custody.
Step by Step Therapy takes a recovery-focused approach that recognises each person's strengths and ability to move forward.
Each session focuses on what matters most to the individual at that moment. Where time allows, additional sessions can be offered, giving women the opportunity to explore challenges, goals and ways of coping in more depth.
This flexible approach is particularly important within substance misuse services, where women are often dealing with a range of challenges alongside uncertainty, major life changes and emotional difficulties.
By meeting people where they are, Step by Step Therapy provides support when it is needed most, helping women feel more confident and better able to manage the challenges they face.
Early feedback and data from the service have been encouraging, showing positive changes in wellbeing and engagement with support.
Some women find that talking about difficult experiences can feel challenging at first, especially when they begin exploring emotions and patterns linked to substance use. However, over time, many go on to feel better able to cope and manage their wellbeing.
This is an important part of the counselling process. Taking time to understand difficult experiences can bring up uncomfortable emotions, but it can also help people develop healthier ways of coping and support their recovery in the long term.
Feedback from women using the service has been consistently positive, with helpfulness ratings often reaching 9 or 10 out of 10. This highlights the value of having support available when it is needed most.
One woman accessing the substance misuse service was awaiting a court appearance and facing significant uncertainty about her future. Because of her remand status, she would not have been able to access traditional longer-term counselling.
Through Step by Step Therapy, she was able to take part in nine sessions focused on helping her manage a particularly stressful period in her life.
Together with her counsellor, she explored practical ways of coping, including grounding techniques, breathing exercises and creating a plan to help her prepare for different possible outcomes.
The sessions also gave her a consistent and supportive space to talk through her experiences, process her emotions and regain a sense of control during a difficult and uncertain time.
Following her court appearance, she was released from custody. Throughout her time with the service, she rated every session 10 out of 10 for helpfulness, reflecting the value of having support available during a critical point in her life.
"Having someone to talk to and practical tools to manage my anxiety helped me feel calmer and more able to cope with whatever happened next."
Step by Step Therapy has strengthened Forward's counselling provision at HMP Bronzefield by improving access to support for women who might otherwise miss the opportunity because of short stays in custody.
By introducing a brief, focused and strengths-based approach within the substance misuse service, the team is helping women build confidence, improve their wellbeing and take positive steps forward.
The early results are encouraging, but perhaps most importantly, the service shows that meaningful support does not always need to happen over a long period of time.
Sometimes, a single conversation can be the first step towards positive change.
Learn more about our work at HMP Bronzefield
Discover how The Forward Trust supports women at HMP Bronzefield through trauma-informed substance misuse treatment, family support and recovery programmes designed to help people build brighter futures.
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Across more than 20 prisons in England and Wales, The Forward Trust delivers substance misuse treatment, mental wellbeing support and recovery programmes that help people rebuild their lives both in custody and beyond.
