Stella Duffy

Dr Stella Duffy is an existential psychotherapist in private practice having previously worked in NHS cancer psychological support, hospice bereavement support, and low-cost community services. Her doctoral research was in the embodied experience of postmenopause. The award-winning writer of 17 novels, over 70 short stories and 15 plays, she has twice won the CWA Short Story Dagger (2002, 2013), twice won Stonewall Writer of the Year (2008, 2010), and won the Diva Literary Prize for Fiction (2017) and Diva’s Lyra Mckee Wordsmith of the Year (2021). Virago will publish her first non fiction Being the Change in 2027.

She is also a theatremaker and facilitator, with a particular interest in the creative possibilities of existential psychotherapy. The co-founder and for eight years the co-director of Fun Palaces, working with community co-creation across the UK, Stella has been active in equalities work in the arts and LGBTQ+ communities for many decades. She was awarded the OBE in 2016 for Services to the Arts.

Represented by Stephanie Cabot.