Dr Alice Stephan

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You can’t always get what you want,
But if you try sometime you find,
You get what you need.
– Rolling Stones

I offer psychotherapy to help with a range of life problems. A change in perspective on life can be healing in itself. It also reveals possibilities and develops potential.

Psychotherapy

Are you feeling dissatisfied or stuck in life?
Do you have problems with relationships or low self-esteem?
Or do you keep repeating behaviour you later regret?
Perhaps you are facing a tough life transition or have suffered a loss?
Maybe you feel depressed, stressed, anxious or have health worries?

I find engaging in psychotherapy changes perspectives, which lessens suffering and helps with these sorts of life problems. It also reveals opportunities and develops potential. My job as a therapist is to provide a safe space for you to explore your story and to deepen your understanding of yourself and what keeps you stuck.

Depending on our focus regular meetings can span from a month to years. Briefer therapy tends to focus on a specific current problem, whereas longer therapy is more suitable for repeated difficulties rooted in earlier experiences. Therapy can be an intense process often involving sensitive feelings, which take their time to work through. However, studies show that in the long run psychodynamic treatment is very effective. Wellbeing continues to improve for years after therapy stops.

Eating Disorders

Research is clear that specialist treatment for early symptoms can prevent a full-blown eating disorder developing. Early signs include: skipping meals, reduction in the amount or types of food eaten, unexplained weight loss; increased concern about body size, weight or shape; compulsive exercise; eating large amounts of food quickly; abdominal problems or vomiting.

I provide an integrated and holistic treatment approach for adolescents and adults across a broad range of eating, weight and shape concerns; from mild symptoms to severe symptoms meeting diagnostic criteria for eating disorders e.g. Anorexia nervosa or Bulimia nervosa. I offer specialist assessment, medication and psychotherapy for the spectrum of eating disorders as well as any coexisting problems. We combine my knowledge of research, best practice and clinical experience with your expertise on You to find the best fit for treatment.

Psychiatry

I offer psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, case formulation and collaborative treatment for general psychiatric problems.

Background and Experience

With over 25 years’ of clinical experience in mental health, I have worked as a general adult community psychiatrist, as well as in specialist psychotherapy and eating disorders services providing treatment across all ages within Midland. My work has been both as as a consultant psychiatrist and as a therapist.

As a longstanding director of psychiatry, I have been very involved with medical education, supervision, have developed a program of online interactive teaching modules and have served on a number of College committees.
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My approach is informed by research and my clinical experience, but everyone is unique and needs something different. I like to take time to listen, and enjoy working in a warm, collaborative manner.

Supervision Services

I provide clinical supervision for doctors and other health professionals who are working in mental health or provide psychological support or counselling to clients or involved in teaching or training other health professionals.
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My areas of expertise are:

• Eating disorders all ages
• Personality Difficulties
• Medical Education