Marlys Davis

I work Mondays to Thursday until 6 o'clock

I am a qualified psychodynamic psychotherapist and I am specifically trained to work with children, adolescents and young adults. I have 15 years of experience working in schools, the voluntary sector and CAMHS.

I offer a professional, confidential and friendly therapeutic space to explore what is troubling you. Sessions are face-to-face in a warm and safe environment where you can bring any subject you wish to talk about without judgment and at your own pace. It is my job to make you feel comfortable and do my utmost to understand what things are like for you. Together we will try to make sense of what is going on for you.

Children often find it more difficult to talk about their feelings or might not even know what they are feeling. Some children will act out these feelings, which can lead to some behaviours that are difficult to understand. Others might withdraw when faced with difficult feelings and become quiet and isolated. Children often find it easier to express themselves through play so I use a variety of creative ways to engage your child, art, toys, games, role play, stories, whatever your child feels comfortable with. 

 Adolescence can be a difficult time, full of anxiety, uncertainty and changes. Together, we will try to understand their feelings and what might be troubling them. Having an understanding of their feelings and knowing that having these feelings, good or bad, is ok and can be managed will help them feel more in control of their emotions and behaviours.

Children under 12 The first session will normally be just with the parent(s), to go through your child's history and their presenting issues to see how I can help. If you are happy then the second session we will spend the first 20 minutes or so all together so your child can get to know me a little bit. If your child needs more time with you there, to get used to me that is ok, I will take things at your child's pace. From then on I will see your child on their own for 50 minute once weekly sessions.

Young people under 18 The first session will be a joint session, to go through your child's history and the presenting issue and then I will spend the last 20 minutes or so with the child on their own, if they feel comfortable with me. If you and your child are happy, I will see them for their next session on their own.

Young Adults In the first session we will be going through some history and the presenting problem. I will take it at your pace, it is also an opportunity to get to know each other a little bit to see if you feel comfortable with me and want to continue.