Dr Victoria Stephens
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
I am a Registered Clinical Psychologist and Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist.
I have been working therapeutically with children, adolescents, and young adults, as well their carers/parents for over 26 years. I have worked both within the NHS and private sector in different clinical settings, including parent-infant services and child, adolescent, and young adult mental health services.
I am also a visiting lecturer at the Tavistock Clinic, teaching on the Perinatal Postgraduate Course
Training, qualifications & experience
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – Newcastle University, 1996-1999
- Professional Qualification in Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy – Tavistock Clinic/University of Essex, 2015-2019
- EMDR Practitioner (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing), June 2024
Interventions Available
As a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, I am trained to observe behaviour and interaction, to understand what is communicated beyond the surface and suggest insight into the emotional state of the child or young person. As a Clinical Psychologist, I am also trained to support people in dealing with their difficulties by helping them to explore and understand why and how they developed a particular concern and provide specific techniques or coping strategies to aid recovery.
I use a range of resources, techniques and interventions. These include:-
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy – linking thoughts, emotions and behaviours
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy – informed by the psychoanalytic understanding of the mind
- Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Parent-Infant Psychotherapy
- Short Term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (STPP)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Therapy options include
- Brief interventions - 4-8 sessions
- Medium Term – 10-30 sessions
- Long-term or open-ended therapy, often a year or more in duration, with appointments offered between 1-3 times a week
Some families, particularly those with younger, pre-school children, may be interested in a parent offer or intervention. This offer is usually conducted over six sessions. I meet the parents twice - at the beginning and the end of the assessment - and use the middle four sessions to undertake therapeutic assessment with the child. This approach is helpful for families who struggle with challenges such as sleep or separation difficulties in the context of transition between the settings, or other temporary disturbances.
First appointments typically begin with the child and young person with their parent or carer. We may remain together for the whole of the first session and perhaps sessions going forward if this helps ease anxiety about the assessment. Parents and/or carers are welcome to remain in the waiting room whilst a session is in progress also.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
The ACP is the registering body for NHS trained Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists. ACP members undergo a minimum 6 year training; two years at Masters level then 4 years full-time clinical in the NHS qualifying in a Doctorate Level course. Full members are able to work with neonates, mothers & babies, parents & toddlers, primary school age children & adolescents. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Parent-Infant Mental Health
Therapies offered
Fees
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I accept self-funding patients and am registered with all the major insurance companies. I am happy to discuss a sliding fee scale for those self-funding according to need.
When I work
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Further information
I work with young people who may be at risk of, or do, self-harm. However, I am not able to provide urgent, emergency, or crisis care. When risk of harm is present, I will liaise with the appropriate people to ensure safety is maintained. I will also signpost the young person and their carer/parent to the appropriate support, either at the local A&E, GP, or mental health crisis support offered through the NHS. I am happy to work with and alongside NHS colleagues should psychiatric support be required.
