Welcome to
"On The Couch With Steve"

This is the website for me, Stephen Ashley, Registered Psychotherapist. Please, take a few minutes to look around the site and find out about me, my work and what we might be able to do together, here on and from The Costa Blanca in Spain. If you would like to know more about any topic or to talk over an issue please get in touch as I'd love to hear from you.

Who Am I?

I am Steve Ashley, an Attachment-based, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, living and working on the Costa Blanca since 2001. I offer weekly clinics in Alicante and online psychotherapy sessions globally.

My History

I am a registered member of the U.K. Council for Psychotherapy, a body that ensures the depth and quality of therapist training and the ongoing monitoring of performance, ethics and standards. Registration is renewed annually to ensure that adequate Continuous Professional Development is undertaken, to enhance personal practice by staying abreast of new developments and thinking.
In August 2005 resulting from my qualifications and experience I was awarded registered status with the European Association for Psychotherapy. In September 2008 I secured the status of “Licenciado en Psicologia” from the Ministry of Science and Innovation in Madrid. I also in that year became a member of the Official College of Valencian Psychologists. I have trained (in the U.K.) in the use of EMDR therapy much used when resolving cases of PTSD.
I have more than twenty years experience as a psychotherapist both in private practice and as individual and group coach to corporate business in the U.K.
I work online extensively and globally.

Attachment Theory

What is, "Attachment-based psychotherapy"?

Attachment theory was originally developed in the U.K. in the 1960’s by Sir John Bowlby, regarded by many as one of the most influential psychiatrists of the last century.

Attachment theory holds that, in addition to basic human needs for food, water and shelter, we have an equally fundamental need for emotional attachment to others. In getting our attachment needs met, patterns of relating to others are absorbed by us as babies and children as our brains are effectively “wired” throughout early childhood and again during adolescence.

These patterns become part of who we are - our personality if you like - and influence the way we relate to ourselves and to others throughout our adult lives. Should our early experience be "good enough", we still, as everyone does suffer life´s knocks but we recover relatively well over time because we have what Bowlby termed a "secure base". Should our early experience be "not good-enough", a range of personal and relational problems can develop and impact all aspects of our daily lives, in personal relationships with partners and friends and colleagues.

This is because we have developed unhealthy ways of relating to stay as safe as possible and get our developmental needs met as best we can. Of course, almost all of this process, positive or negative, occurs outside our awareness.

Attachment-based psychotherapy looks to understand and re-develop these patterns to effectively over-write the early wiring. The aim is to produce healthy and more fulfilling relationships with ourself and with others. It is used globally to successfully to work with people with depression and low self-esteem and many other life issues.

Contact me

So what happens in psychotherapy and how do we start?

Initial Meeting

After a conversation on the telephone we would arrange to meet. This would last for about an hour. This is a chance to get some feeling of who each of us is, to discuss your situation and what you are looking for from therapy. We will look at practical issues too including when we might meet and the question of fees.

Mutual Decision

At the end of this meeting, we will make a mutual decision on whether to work together. There is no charge for this initial assessment. Beyond this, working together at a regular time each week or more often if necessary, psychotherapy is undertaken as a confidential, co-operative venture between me as therapist and you, the client, using straight-forward language we both understand.

Working Relationship

With respect and understanding we will develop a secure working relationship in which to explore the issues you bring. Working together at a pace that is healthy for you, we will identify, explore, understand, and eliminate barriers to your happiness and fulfilment.

Self-development

We will work to build a strong sense of who you really are and strengthen your capacity to form healthy, sustaining relationships. Both are essential to managing the stressful experience that life today can be, even here on the Costa Blanca. Fees for each session are normally €80.

Who Can Be Helped?

Psychotherapy can help when you need support and are battling with...

Depression
Bereavement
Poor self-confidence
Relationship issues
Obsessive behaviour
PTSD
Abuse
Addiction
Phobia
Trauma
Anxiety
Sexual identity

Welcome to"On The Couch With Steve"

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