About me
Who Am I?
Hi, I'm Kate, a qualified and HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist (DPsych), trained to a doctoral level to deliver evidence-based psychological interventions. I am also a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) and an EMDR Association UK-accredited EMDR Practitioner. I have a background in the NHS as a Principal Supervising Psychologist for a county-wide psychological therapy service.
Specialisms:
Many of the people I work with are extremely capable, thoughtful individuals who appear to manage very well on the outside, yet internally feel burnt out, exhausted, stuck, self-critical, or overwhelmed.
Some have spent years coping with anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or shame. Others are beginning to understand how their earlier experiences, such as incidents at school, or at home, or neurodivergence, such as ADHD, may be influencing how they feel and function today.
I have particular experience supporting those with:
· Anxiety and chronic worry (including generalised anxiety disorder)
· Trauma and childhood and / or complex trauma (C-PTSD)
· Emotional regulation difficulties
· ADHD and ADHD-related challenges
· Perfectionism, imposter syndrome and self-criticism
· Stress, burnout and overwhelm
· Low self-esteem and confidence difficulties
· Disordered eating
· Relationship and attachment difficulties
I also have extensive experience working with depression and an array of anxiety related disorders, including PTSD, OCD, panic, social anxiety, health anxiety, and the lasting effects of adverse life experiences and childhood trauma.
My Approach:
For personal reasons and as required by the numerous psychology and therapy degrees I have completed, I have undergone extensive personal therapy myself.
I am very aware of how bad things can get when someone finally decides to seek help; the shame sometimes felt, and just how anxiety provoking it can be to open up to another person.
With that, my aim as a therapist first and foremost, is to be present and to really listen, without judgement and with compassion.
My key therapeutic approaches are evidence-based models (summary of these can be found below) CBT, EMDR, IFS, CFT, ACT, IPT and somatically (body) informed approaches to assist with nervous system regulation. I draw on and skilfully blend these approaches to develop a tailor-made treatment plan and so that we not only work with thoughts and behaviours, but also with the emotional, relational, and physiological patterns that can keep difficulties in place.
I believe that symptoms in the ‘here and now’ often make sense when understood within the context of your life experiences, relationships, and nervous system responses. Rather than focusing solely on symptom reduction, I aim to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, build emotional resilience, and create lasting changes.
Summary Core Approaches:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a popular, evidence-based talking therapy often used to treat depression and anxiety-related difficulties. It helps you to manage your difficulties by focusing on the interaction between your cognitions (thoughts, images, beliefs etc) emotions, bodily / physical responses and behaviours. CBT recognises that unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours are typically learnt in childhood and beyond, and can be changed to more helpful alternatives, leading to less unwanted feelings. CBT will help you identify your own unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours and teach you tools and mechanisms to break the vicious cycle that we all often experience
Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
When we experience something traumatic, whether that be what we call a ‘capital T trauma’ (such as sexual assault including rape, physical assault, combat, or a car accident) or a ‘lower case t trauma’ (such as being excluded by friends at school, being shouted at by a teacher, being stung by a bee), the memory of that experience can have a lasting impact on us. These memories are stored in a memory network that is separate from where other, more benign memories are stored. EMDR aims to help connect these two memories networks so that more helpful and accurate thoughts can come to mind when we are faced with triggers in the 'here and now'.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that recognises that the mind is not a single entity, rather, it's a multiplicity of "parts" that often have conflicting ideas about what is best for us. These parts can become stuck or extreme in response to past experiences. It helps us understand and heal the different "parts" of ourselves, especially those that carry pain, protect us from harm, or try to numb us. At the core of IFS is the belief that everyone has a Self, a calm, compassionate, grounded inner presence that can lead and heal the system when given space.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a modern, evidence-based therapy that helps people build a more flexible, meaningful life, even in the presence of difficult thoughts, feelings, or experiences. Rather than trying to get rid of painful thoughts or emotions, ACT teaches you how to make space for them, reduce their impact, and focus your energy on what really matters to you. ACT is based on six core processes that help develop psychological flexibility, the ability to stay present, open, and committed to actions that align with your values.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
CFT is a psychological approach designed to help people who struggle with shame, self-criticism, and feelings of not being "good enough." It’s especially helpful for those who may understand things logically but find it hard to feel kindness or acceptance toward themselves. CFT draws on neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and attachment theory to explain how our brains are wired for threat and how this can lead to anxiety, low mood, and harsh self-talk, especially if we’ve experienced difficult early relationships or trauma. CFT helps people build their "compassionate mind" to soothe the inner critic, and regulate emotions.
Training, qualifications & experience
Professional Qualifications:
- Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DPsych)
City, University of London | 2013–2016 - Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (IAPT)
Royal Holloway, University of London | 2010–2011 - Postgraduate Certificate in CBT (Expert Practice)
King's College London | 2009–2010 - Postgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapy & Counselling
University of Roehampton | 2008–2009 - BSc (Hons) Psychology
University of Kent | 2004–2008
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Additional Specialist Training:
- EMDR Parts 1–3 (EMDR UK Association Accredited Practitioner)
- ADHD Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) Certification Course: Strength-based Interventions to Thrive with ADHD from Childhood to Adulthood
- Trauma Treatment (Certification Training)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS; Certification Training)
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT; Certification Training)
- CBT-E, Centre for Research on Eating Disorders, Oxford University
- High Intensity Clinical Supervision
- Psychometrics (Levels A & B)
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Recent CPD (Continuing Professional Development Training)
- Self-regulation Interventions for Children and Young People
- Somatic Therapy for Complex Trauma Certification Training
- Neurodiversity and Trauma
- Advanced Motivational Interviewing
- Trauma Informed Play Interventions for Disorders of Dysregulation
- Suicide Assessment and Intervention
- Changing the ADHD Brain
- Clinical Application of IFS for Healing Traumatic Wounds Alleviating Anxiety
- EMDR & Parts Work for Treating Complex Trauma Somatic Techniques
- Using IFS Therapy with Autistic Clients
- Using Compassion Focused Therapy for Trauma
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Work Experience Overview:
2014-Present: Director/ Principal Psychologist, Counselling Psychology Online Ltd
2017-2019: Clinical Lead/Principal Supervising Clinician / Counselling Psychologist, NHS
2016-2017: Senior High Intensity CBT Therapist/ Counselling Psychologist, NHS
2013-2014: Counselling Psychologist, Addiction and Support Service.
2010- 2016 High Intensity CBT Therapist/ Supervisor, NHS.
2008-2010: Assistant Psychologist, The Priory Hospital, Roehampton.
2008-2009: Honorary Psychotherapist, Kids Company.
2007-2008: Mental Health Support Worker, MCCH.
2006-2008: Supportive Listener, Samaritans.
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 BABCP is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the practice, theory or development of CBT. BABCP also provides accreditation for CBT therapists. BABCP accredited members adhere to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics in the Practice of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, and are willing to be scrutinised in this adherence as required.
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.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£75.00 - £130.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
My usual fees are £130 per 50-minute session.
Fees reflect the level of experience and quality of the therapy received.
Please note: I do offer a limited number of low-cost spaces, however, these are currently full.
Registered provider with: Aviva, AXA-PPP, BUPA, Cigna HealthCare, Exeter Family Friendly, WPA and Vitality (Pru) Health.
Please do ask if you are registered with an alternative provider - some insurance companies require that I am approached by an individual for services before I am able to register with them.
Please note: I have a slightly different fee schedule for treatment that is funded by health insurance. This is due to specific requirements for reports that insurance companies request.
Additional information
I am Director and Principal Psychologist of Counselling Psychology Online Ltd, a small and friendly team of Psychologists, CBT, EMDR Therapists and Counsellors. If I am at capacity, or believe another therapist may be better suited to help you, I happy to recommend other qualified and experienced practitioners to you.
Session rates within our team range from £75 to £120 depending on the practitioner who is delivering therapy. They may also be able to offer concessionary rate sessions.
When I work
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Further information
I am part of a small group of qualified and experienced therapists. If for any reason I feel someone else may be better suited to meet your needs, I will happily and promptly put them you in touch with them.
