Welcome to

Dr Katy Davis

Helping you get back on your feet and thriving

Clinical psychologist in Guildford, Surrey.

Clinical Psychologist in Guildford Offering Therapy, Life Coaching & Supervision

Hello, thank you for visiting my website. My name is Dr Katy Davis and I'm a Clinical Psychologist. I have over 15 years experience working with adults, young people and children both in the NHS and the charity sector. I'm based in Guildford and now work privately part-time offering a range of psychological services to people. These are: psychotherapy, life coaching and supervision.

As a Clinical Psychologist, my goal is to help you understand and navigate the distress you're experiencing, and to support you in finding meaningful ways to overcome it so that you can lead a really good life. My work goes beyond just listening – Clinical Psychology is about providing thoughtful guidance, practical advice, and empowering you with strategies to create positive, lasting change.

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A Client-Centred Approach to Therapy

I know that change can be challenging, especially when it brings up very painful feelings, so I take a compassionate, client-centred approach, meeting you where you are at and progressing at your pace.

Expertise and Evidence-Based Care

Becoming a Clinical Psychologist requires many years of training, learning how to work collaboratively with clients to assess their needs, understand their challenges, and offer evidence-based interventions tailored to their unique circumstances. When you work with me, you can be assured you're receiving support from a highly trained professional committed to enhancing your wellbeing.

Supervision for Clinical Psychologists

I am an experienced supervisor and offer supervision to trainee and qualified therapists, clinical psychologists and mental health professionals. My main models of therapy include EMDR, CBT, CFT, ACT, DBT and NET, working with young people and adults. I also draw on CAT, gestalt and psychodynamic ideas. Working part time in the NHS means I am often thinking and working systemically too.

Therapies I Offer

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a well‑established, evidence‑based treatment for trauma. It’s not only effective for “big T” traumatic events, but also for any memories that still feel disturbing when recalled — for example, experiences that bring up embarrassment, shame, humiliation, fear or anxiety.

EMDR involves bringing a difficult memory to mind while simultaneously focusing on a task set by the therapist. Traditionally, this task involves following the therapist’s hand as it moves from side to side. Holding the memory in mind, whilst completing the competing task helps the brain to process the memory so that the emotional distress attached to it fades. It may sound unconventional, but it’s strongly supported by research. The memory remains, but it stops feeling so charged or intrusive. EMDR is widely used to treat PTSD, but it’s also effective for anxiety, addictions and depression.

When it works, EMDR is often faster than traditional talking therapies and doesn’t require the client to talk in detail about the distressing experience.

CFT

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) helps reduce internal shame and soften the inner critic by strengthening a person’s capacity for compassion. It can be highly effective for many forms of anxiety, including social anxiety and performance‑related fears. For many people, anxiety is fuelled by shame and a harsh inner voice that constantly puts them down. This isn’t something they’ve chosen — it’s a pattern that has developed over time and can feel overwhelming to live with.

Some clients find that traditional CBT hasn’t worked for them, sometimes because it unintentionally reinforced their self‑criticism or sense of failure. CFT recognises this and emphasises that kindness toward oneself is essential for emotional wellbeing. When we approach ourselves with warmth rather than judgement, it becomes much easier to face challenges, make changes and step outside our comfort zones.

NET

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is an evidence‑based approach designed to treat multiple or complex traumas. It uses structured storytelling to help a person build a coherent, integrated narrative of their life, including their traumatic experiences.

NET typically unfolds in three stages. First, the therapist and client create a timeline that maps out the key emotionally charged moments in the client’s life. Next, the client talks through each of these memories in chronological order. As they do, the therapist helps them explore the events with greater context, grounding and compassion. Finally, the therapist reads back the narrative they have heard, allowing the client to reflect on their story with a clearer sense of continuity and meaning.

CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a well‑established, evidence‑based treatment for a wide range of mental health difficulties. It is particularly effective for anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I do use CBT in my work, but I often integrate Compassion Focused Therapy alongside it, as many clients find this combination more supportive and ultimately more effective.

ACT

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence‑based approach used to treat a wide range of mental health difficulties. It has particularly strong evidence for supporting people living with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, addiction, stress, burnout and the challenges of adjusting to chronic illness.

ACT is pronounced as a single word — “act” — to reflect one of its core principles: that living a fulfilling and meaningful life requires taking action in line with our values. In therapy, clients learn to identify what truly matters to them and to develop the skills to tolerate or “defuse” from difficult thoughts and feelings. This allows them to take steps, even small ones, toward a life that feels purposeful and worth living.

My location

Online appointments are delivered via Zoom and in-person appointments at The Eaves Counselling and Psychology Ltd in Guildford, Surrey. My experience is that both ways of working can be equally effective depending on the needs of the client. If you have any concerns or questions, please do contact me to learn more.

Fees & availability

Sessions last about 50 minutes, usually taking place on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for therapy, and as-and-when for life coaching. Initial assessment appointments last around 90 minutes. The cost is £115 per session. My fee for supervision is £115.

Payment is required in advance of each session. I appreciate as much notice as possible if you are unable to attend an appointment. This allows someone else to have access to a session if needed. As such, at least 48 hours’ notice is needed, otherwise you will still need to pay for any sessions missed.

Funding through health insurance

The insurance companies that I work with are Aviva, AXA, BUPA, WPA and Vitality. If you are with a different insurance provider, it may be possible for you to pay me and then claim the money back from your provider. It's worth checking with your provider whether they can offer this.

Testimonials

FAQs

Appointments are 50 minutes. The initial session may run slightly longer if needed, as there is often more ground to cover at the start.

Therapy sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly. Life coaching sessions are arranged as and when you need them.

There’s no fixed number. We’ll decide together what feels most helpful for your recovery. I’ve worked with people for as few as three sessions and for as long as several years. What matters most is that you find the work beneficial.

You can reach me by email or phone. As I work for the NHS three days a week, there may occasionally be a delay, but I aim to respond within two days.

Face‑to‑face appointments are held at The Eaves in Guildford. Address: 3 Paris, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 9JX. There is free parking and a reception area where you can wait before your session.

Yes — I accept Aviva, AXA, Bupa, WPA, and Vitality. Please note: Insurance coverage varies, and so I do ask clients to cover any difference between what their insurance will cover and my full fee.

That’s absolutely fine — just let me know by email or phone/message.

With more than 48 hours’ notice, the fee is £22 to cover the room cost.

With less than 48 hours’ notice, the full session fee of £115 is payable.

This is because, with enough notice, I can offer the session to someone else, rent the room out, and avoid preparing for the session.

My work is individually focused, but some people prefer to have someone join them for the initial appointment, which is completely fine.

You’re always free to end sessions whenever you feel it’s right. I trust a client’s instinct — if your gut is telling you the sessions aren’t helpful, or that it’s not the right time for therapy, I fully respect that.

It can sometimes be useful to talk together about what’s led to the decision, simply to make sense of it or to ensure you leave feeling settled. But even that is entirely your choice; you never have to share anything you don’t want to.

My role is to support you, including in choosing when to pause or finish therapy.

I’m often asked this question and it can be confusing trying to understand the differences. This is because these roles overlap in that they all support mental health, but they differ in training, focus and what they are legally able to do.

Clinical Psychologist

A Clinical Psychologist is funded by the NHS and trained in multiple evidence‑based psychological therapies to help people understand and alleviate distress. Key features:

They complete a doctorate, which includes clinical placements and research, so they often have “Dr” in their title. It usually takes around 7–8 years to qualify as a Clinical Psychologist.
They specialise in developing a formulation — a detailed understanding of how a person’s difficulties developed and what keeps them going.
They are goal‑focused, working collaboratively with clients to create meaningful change.
They do not prescribe medication.
Clinical Psychologists and Counselling Psychologists are regulated by the HCPC.
A Counselling Psychologist is very similar to a Clinical Psychologist, but they self-fund.

Psychiatrist

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed a medical degree and then specialised in mental health. Training to become a Consultant Psychiatrist in the UK takes a minimum of 7–8 years after medical school. Key features:

They can prescribe medication to help manage symptoms.
They diagnose using manuals such as the ICD‑11 or DSM‑5.
In the UK, Psychiatrists rarely provide therapy; their role is usually assessment, diagnosis and medication management.
They may work alongside psychologists or therapists as part of a wider treatment plan.
Depending on your needs, you might work with a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or both.

Psychotherapist

“Psychotherapist” is a broad term for someone trained to provide psychological therapy. In the UK, it usually refers to someone who has completed a formal, multi‑year training (often 3–4 years) in a specific therapeutic approach. Key features:

Training may be in psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, CBT, humanistic therapy, integrative therapy, or others.
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic trainings focus strongly on how early relationships and experiences shape current patterns.
Psychotherapists often offer longer‑term therapy.
They are typically accredited with UKCP, BPC, or BACP.

Counsellor

“Counsellor” is also a broad term, but more formally it refers to someone who has completed a diploma‑level training in counselling. Key features:

Training is usually 2–3 years at diploma level.
Counselling tends to be shorter‑term and often focuses on specific issues, life events or emotional support.
Counsellors may work integratively, drawing on several therapeutic models.
Many are accredited with BACP.

Each profession brings something different, and the “right” one depends on your needs, preferences and the type of support you’re looking for.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to arrange a free 15-minute introductory call. We can discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to see me, whether working together could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.

You can email or call me on +44 7474866997

All enquiries are usually answered within 48 hours.