Becky R. Davenport, Ph.D., LMFT-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor

Owner and Director of ICFE

Works with: Children, Adults, Couples, and Families

Specialties: PTSD and Trauma, EMDR, Infidelity, Discernment Counseling, Anxiety, Depression, Co-Parenting

I have been a therapist for over 25 years now, beginning with my graduate school internship in 1999. Throughout my education, I had experiences in several settings- a preschool, elementary school, high school, hospital, community mental health clinic, university clinic, and private practice. I have worked with children and their parents, couples, and individual clients presenting with a wide variety of needs and concerns. All of these clients had one thing in common, though- they wanted and needed a connection with someone who genuinely sought to understand their needs and circumstances, then help them find a way forward to better health, connection, and wholeness. Through the years, I have learned so much from all of my clients about how we navigate this one precious life we have been given. 

I established ICFE in 2010 based on the deep belief that there was a need in the San Antonio area for therapy for couples, families, and individuals rooted in an awareness of our existence in relationships. Humans first and foremost are relational beings- biologically, psychologically, and spiritually.  None of us exist alone, even though it sometimes may feel like it. We are deeply interconnected and affected by relationships and events within our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. Our health and happiness in life depends on choosing and participating in healthy relationships, and navigating the inevitable challenges and struggles that will come in life. My primary therapy services at ICFE are play therapy for young children, couples therapy, discernment counseling, and individual therapy for adults processing life changes or trauma. 

Young Children 

I still love working with young children (8 and younger) as much as I did when I worked as a preschool teacher while attending graduate school- I love seeing their creativity and energy, and being part of helping their families be a healthy and secure base for their early and formative years. I have almost 20 years of experience now as a play therapist, and continue to be amazed at the power of play in children’s lives. Play is the language children speak, how they make sense of their worlds, and how they learn about themselves and their potential. Depending on the specific needs, I utilize different types of play therapy. I strongly believe in active inclusion of parents in child-focused therapy- my goal is to educate and empower parents to be the primary source of security and health for their children. 

Couples Therapy

In my work with couples, I primarily work from solution focused, narrative, and emotionally focused therapy models. Some couples I see are still deeply in love and desire to learn skills and strategies to keep their relationship strong, adapt to new life circumstances, or navigate stressors. With these couples, I primarily work from a solution-focused approach, using tools and education for the couple from the work of John and Julie Gottman (The Gottman Model). Others are struggling to hold on to their relationship and may be seriously considering ending it- they are not feeling secure or connected in their relationship. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) is a couples therapy model with strong research support, in which we work to change the patterns in the relationship for conflict resolution, connection, and communication. Breaking free from the negative patterns can feel impossible, but it happens regularly in EFCT when couples commit to learn and change together. 

Discernment Counseling

For couples in which one or both partners is seriously considering ending the relationship, discernment counseling is my recommended structure for beginning work with the couple instead of traditional couples therapy. Discernment counseling is a brief (1-5 sessions) therapeutic process primarily focused on helping the couple understand what has happened in their relationship, what each partner’s role has been, and what each partner’s role will need to be in positive change for the relationship. Additionally, discernment counseling allows for exploration of a realistic understanding of the process and consequences of ending the relationship. For more information about Discernment Counseling, please see my blog post.

Individual Therapy

I work with individual adults for a wide variety of needs and issues, including life adjustments (leaving home, becoming a parent, navigating a divorce, etc), depression, anxiety, and relationship challenges. My style of therapy is dependent on the client’s needs and personality because I know there are different paths to health and healing for different people. I can be direct and challenging of clients when appropriate, while also striving for all of my clients to feel heard, understood, and valued. I incorporate solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, psychoeducation, Internal Family Systems, attachment science, and experiential therapy into my work. I am an Enneagram nerd and enjoy incorporating this work into therapy if it fits the client’s interests and needs. I am quite comfortable incorporating faith and spirituality into therapy depending on client requests and preferences. My clinical and life experiences have also taught me how impactful trauma and stress are on the human mind, body, and spirit. I actively seek to incorporate trauma-informed interventions into individual, couple, and child therapy. I pursued training in EMDR in 2016, and have since incorporated this powerful trauma intervention in therapy with my clients because it is such a powerful tool to quickly address the somatic impact of trauma. 

Center for Families in Transition

Besides the traditional therapy services I provide within ICFE, I provide court-ordered therapy services, Parenting Coordination, and Parenting Facilitation through the Center for Families in Transition (CFIT). I am also active in the Collaborative Divorce movement in Texas, and work as a Neutral Mental Health Professional for couples choosing a private and future-focused divorce process outside of adversarial litigation that can negatively impact the family for years to come. While I will always advocate for preserving marriages when at all possible, I know this is not always possible and not always the choice that both partners believe to be right for their situation. For more information about Collaborative Divorce, or to schedule a consultation, visit www.cfittexas.com, email me at davenport@cfittexas.com, or call 210-314-1117.

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Texas A & M University in College Station, and will always be a proud member of the Aggie Class of ’98. I then completed a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary’s University in 2000, and moved to Iowa to complete a Doctoral program at Iowa State University. I received my Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2004. I met my husband, Chris, at Texas A & M, and we have been doing life together for almost 30 years now. We have two wonderful children who have taught us so much as we have watched them grow into young adults. We love to travel, play games, and laugh together. We are currently cherishing all of the moments until our nest is officially empty. I love to read, listen to podcasts, attempt to take care of my rose and outdoor plants, and spend time in nature.

Contact: 210-496-0100 | davenport@icfetx.com | www.drbeckydavenport.com