Welcome to Stephanie
Davis Psychotherapy
'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you'. Maya Angelou
Welcome, my name is Stephanie Davis. I provide both short- and long-term counselling and psychotherapy in Witney and Abingdon. If you would like to arrange an initial consultation, or have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
There are times when we all find that life is not easy. We may be struggling to manage things alone; facing a period of high stress, challenge or uncertainty; experiencing difficulty in a relationship; or we may be feeling stuck and uncertain about our way forward. Sometimes we realise that there are patterns of behaviours and difficult emotions which we would like to change, but we are unsure how to do this. In any of these, you are not alone. Through my twenty years of practising, my own personal experience and continued development in the fields of neuroscience, psychotherapy and counselling, I feel it is clear that therapy is an effective treatment for a wide range of issues.
I am a UKCP registered attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapist based near Oxford. I provide psychotherapy and counselling to individuals, couples and young people from a relational perspective. I offer short and long term psychotherapy and counselling in both Abingdon and Witney
Working from consulting rooms conveniently located in both West and South Oxfordshire, I offer a safe space for us to explore and understand together whatever challenges and difficulties you are experiencing in your life. The exploration also involves working towards overcoming individual challenges, and facilitating the development of new ways of being and achieving your life goals.
To find out more about Counselling and Psychotherapy with me, visit the My Approach page.
Counselling
I practice Counselling in both Abingdon and Witney. Counselling is a form of talking therapy which aims to provide you with a supportive space in which to explore and understand complicated feelings and unhelpful patterns of thinking and/or behaving. Counselling can be helpful for a variety of struggles such dealing with life transitions, relationship problems, difficult life events and some mental health problems. Some young people who are transitioning into and out of student life in Oxford find that a psychotherapist can be of particular help. I also offer relationship counselling to couples
Psychotherapy
I practice Psychotherapy in Witney and Abingdon. Psychotherapy work is often more in-depth than counselling as it seeks to understand the underpinnings of current thoughts, feelings and patterns of behaviours which are of concern to clients. Psychotherapy can be extremely helpful in supporting change, and for many mental health conditions such as trauma (childhood and adult), identity struggles, low self esteem, anxiety, PTSD and depression.
About Me
I am an attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapist with experience of working both in private practice and the NHS. I am a registered member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). As such, I am fully insured and bound by their professional Code of Ethics and you can feel safe in the knowledge that you are in trained, professional, caring and safe hands.
After completing a four year training at the Centre for Attachment-Based Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (CAPP), and a PhD in psychology, I have developed expertise in working with a range of clients from different cultural and national backgrounds with issues as diverse as depression, anxiety, trauma, eating problems and abuse as well as emotional difficulties and problems of identity and the self. I am skilled in dealing with life transitions such as stages of adulthood, new and prospective parents, moving into retirement and old age.
Following the completion of a Certificate in Relationship Counselling I have developed expertise in working with couples from a wide range of backgrounds with issues as diverse as communication issues, intimacy issues, cross-cultural issues, affairs, lack of trust and the impact of parenting on the couple dynamic.
My Approach
As an attachment-based therapist, I view relationships with others as a key part of human development and growth, and understand that disruptions and difficulties in relationships - in both childhood and adulthood – and feelings of isolation can damage our ability to manage our lives and our selves. These disruptions and difficulties can affect us in a variety of ways of which we may be unaware. My work involves facilitating an understanding of how much of one’s behaviour, and way of relating to others, is influenced by unconscious mental processes which may be linked to such disruptions and difficulties.
My work also involves recognising that our attachments take place in different contexts and that there is an interplay between our attachments as experienced within the personal relationships and how they are impacted by the wider societal and economic context. The relational nature of the therapy means that the therapy offered is an endeavour in which the therapist and client are both engaged and working together to effect change.
Relationship and Couple Therapy
I use the Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) approach when working with couples. Attachment needs are present throughout the lifespan and viewing the adult couple relationship as an attachment relationship offers a perspective which views the difficulties and disruptions as a consequence of couples struggling to have a good enough, supportive attachment with one another. When a couples’ attachment feels insecure it can result in negative cycles of behaviour which prevent them from communicating and connecting effectively. Working from this perspective, I endeavour to support couples to identify and understand their negative cycles and support them in unlocking the emotions fuelling this negative cycle to facilitate a move to a more secure and supportive attachment and way of relating.
Areas of Specialism
I have developed expertise in working with a range of clients from different cultural and national backgrounds with concerns as:
Trauma
Depression
Eating problems
Problems with identity or self
Anger
Anxiety
Emotional difficulties
Retirement
Becoming a parent
Grief, loss or bereavement
Abuse
Locations
It is usual to wonder if a therapist can meet your particular needs and circumstances. You may need a psychotherapist near Oxford, some counselling in Abingdon or psychotherapy in Witney-whatever your situation do feel free to get in touch.
I work from two practice locations; one in central Abingdon and the other in central Witney. As such, I am a psychotherapist within easy reach of Oxford, Didcot, Witney, Abingdon and the surrounding villages. The practice in Abingdon is situated near to number of public transport links and has ample free parking. It is also wheelchair accessible. My Witney practice is located centrally and, as such, it has many convenient transport links and plenty of free parking nearby. Both practices offer a quite, confidential space in which we can think together about your current needs.
Fees & availability
The First Step
Therapy begins with an initial consultation. This is a stand alone session which allows us to meet and explore your therapy needs and decide if I am the right therapist for you. Sessions last for 1 hour.
Duration of Ongoing Sessions
For ongoing work, sessions last for 50 minutes and are scheduled one or more times weekly.
Fees
Fees range from £75-£100 depending on the length and nature of the work. Some concessions are available.
FAQ
We would arrange an initial consultation of 1 hour in which we would think about what has brought you to therapy at this time and what your struggles and difficulties are. This initial space also provides you with an opportunity to decide whether therapy with me is right for you.
Some therapeutic relationships last for a few weeks or months, others can last for much longer – the length of time largely depends on what kinds of issues are being worked on. Whenever you decide to finish, we would set an end date and ensure that our work together is ended in a way that is safe.
In relational therapy, part of the work involves engaging with the therapist in her entirety. This means that the work is most often conducted face to face with both therapist and client seated. However, the option of working on the couch is also available.
No. Psychotherapy services are accessed by a wide range of individuals who have made a decision to make changes in their life, and develop themselves so that they can feel more authentic, capable and empowered to choose their own path.
Yes, the information shared in session is confidential to therapist and client. The exception is that the therapist may discuss some of the information in supervision (in accordance with ethical guidelines). Only in exceptional circumstances – where the client may be at risk of causing harm to him/herself or to another – may there be a need to break this confidentiality.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07847 440860 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.