Louise Davis

How can I help?

Does your child struggle with anxiety, angry outbursts or seem very stressed?

Are you worried about work issues or your health – or maybe you often feel misunderstood and confused, wary, wounded or stuck?

Perhaps you are wondering if your grief and pain will ever end?

Who am I?

I am an experienced counsellor working with children, young people and adults in Caversham and the Reading, Berkshire area.

I love the work that I do and strongly believe in the therapeutic process and what it can offer. Existing in this world is not always easy and counselling provides a safe place where you are the focus and can explore whatever is troubling or concerning you. I will listen deeply to you without judgement and support you in finding out what is really important to you, and your way forward. In my experience it is when you begin to know and accept yourself more fully that you can trust yourself and start to realise the choices that are available to you.

Initially trained in person-centred and existential counselling, I have since had significant specialist training in play therapy and counselling children and young people, attachment and trauma. I use many different creative and expressive resources geared to your child’s interest and developmental stage, and work collaboratively with my clients to help make sense of what is going on in their lives. I can deliver short, medium and open-ended therapy according to your requirements and budget.

Sandplay therapy

I also offer sandplay therapy, a creative and effective way of working with children, young people and adults, whereby a client has access to miniature figures, water and a box of sand in order to tell their story and process feelings. Dora Kalff initially developed Jungian sandplay therapy and I integrate skills from gestalt sandtray, object relations theory, transpersonal and person-centred sandtray work. This creates a flexible and adaptable non-verbal therapy ideal for children – as well as clients who struggle with words, accessing feelings or want to go beyond talking therapy. The results are that children in particular will be able to express feelings, traumatic memories and improve their behaviour, sometimes in a relatively short space of time.

My experience

I qualified in 2010, having previously been a primary school teacher. My experience includes counselling in a low-cost not-for-profit agency with a wide range of clients of all ages, extensive work within primary and secondary schools and more recently in private practice. I am an adoptive parent to two awesome adult children and have many years’ involvement in supporting parents and school staff.

As an BACP Registered member I abide by their ethical code so you can be assured of my professionalism and training. I have regular consultative supervision and engage in on-going CPD which ensures that I provide my clients with the best service that I can. I hold full public liability insurance and an enhanced DBS.

Talking moments with children                                                                                     are forms of singing, dancing,                                                                                       exploring, giggling, attaining,                                                                                       weeping, wondering, wandering,                                                                                  within quiet, banging, resting,                                                                                      bouncing                                                                                                                     waving oceans and                                                                                                       clouding brilliantly skies.  Dan Hughes

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.  Oscar Wilde

Children:  £50 per 45 minute session 

Parent(s) or Parent/Child:  £60 per 60 minute session

Adults:  £55 per 50 minute session

Therapy is an ongoing relationship and sessions are usually weekly.

Please ask about fees for requesting sessions in school.

My therapy room is a quiet and comfortable garden studio, reached by a slightly uneven path and one step. Unfortunately, therefore, it is not easily wheelchair accessible.

A good place to start is by having a no obligation chat on the phone to see if I can help. Please do leave me a message if I am unable to answer the call and I will get back to you as soon as I can. I endeavour to offer you an initial appointment within a few days.