Kate Elgood
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Offering in person, outdoor and online appointments - N.B. I am currently operating a waiting list
Hello, I’m Kate and I offer warm, compassionate, down to earth counselling (short term and open-ended). Remotely and in person in Glastonbury. I also offer outdoor ‘walk and talk’ therapy.
I am passionate about empowering others to live happier more meaningful lives. Rediscovering who they really are beyond their current struggles.
I am aware it is often a big step for people to begin or return to counselling. And I believe finding a counsellor who is a good fit is so important when considering beginning a new counselling relationship.
Therefore, I offer a free 20-minute introductory phone call, so we can meet and talk through what has brought you to seek counselling. It also gives you a chance to see if you think I might be the right person for you to work with and to ask any questions.
What can I help with?
You may be seeking therapy because you are currently feeling stuck or dissatisfied with life, looking to resolve a particular issue, in the midst of a crisis, or in need of a space to unburden your thoughts and feelings in a safe, warm and non-judgmental setting.
I have worked with people who are experiencing many different issues, including but not limited to:
- anxiety, depression, anger/rage
- bereavement, loss and grief
- stress & overwhelm
- traumatic experiences (including sexual abuse or assault) & trauma responses e.g. flashbacks, dissociation
- self-esteem, lack of self-worth, shame
- repetitive automatic negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours
- neurodiversity (see more below)
- relationship & relational issues
- parenting issues
- difficulties with major life changes and transitions
- identity & belonging
- environmental anxiety/distress
- working with parts of self, inner child
- connecting to and expressing feelings
- mind body connection / embodiment
- developing greater self-compassion
- spirituality and purpose
- personal development
My approach and particular areas of interest
I am a humanistic integrative counsellor. I work in a person-centred way. Working with what you bring, to your agenda, at a pace that feels right for you. Believing each of us are our own best experts.
I trained within a holistic framework which addresses a person as a complex whole, where all aspects are valued; physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, social, spiritual etc.
As an integrative counsellor I draw on my knowledge and experience of many approaches. This allows me to tailor the sessions to be personal to you and your needs at the time.
Approaches I may integrate include:
Mindfulness and Embodiment, Somatic work, Compassion, Transpersonal psychology, Psychosynthesis (working with parts of self), Attachment theory, Neurobiology, Gestalt, Creative and Eco-therapy.
(If you want to find out more about these disciplines, please do ask me).
I have a keen interest in working with neurodiversity and offer a neurodivergent-affirming approach. I work with many clients who self-identify or are diagnosed as neurodivergent (including Autism, ADHD and AuDHD) and also support the exploration of neurodiversity. I have both personal and professional experience of neurodiversity.
I am postgraduate trained trauma therapist. I am equipped to recognise, assess and work with trauma, including single, complex and developmental trauma and the effect of attachment injury. I hold an awareness of the widespread impact of trauma, recognising trauma responses in clients and working sensitively to avoid re-traumatisation (based on Judith Herman’s 3-phase trauma model). I have an integrative approach to trauma work, including somatic work, neurobiology, attachment theory and dissociation.
What can you expect from therapy sessions with me?
A safe, contained space for you to share your experience and to be heard in a non-judgmental way. Bringing gentle curiosity to situations that are troubling you.
I work with integrity and compassion, and my intention is to 'walk alongside' you in an embodied way using my presence, skills and experience to support you on this part of your life's journey.
A commitment to being as authentic as I can and building a therapeutic relationship that offers warmth and acceptance as well as appropriate levels of challenge.
The therapy I offer is creative, experiential and experimental; providing opportunity to develop new perspectives and choices with the potential for change.
Sessions are usually weekly (fortnightly availability too), usually at the same time each week (with flexibility when needed). Sessions last 1 hour.
Further information about walk and talk therapy: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/walk-and-talk-therapy.html#whatiswalkandtalktherapy
Training, qualifications & experience
Level 2 Counselling Skills & Level 3 Counselling Studies - Strode College, Somerset
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Sweet Track Counselling, Somerset
Level 6 Postgraduate Diploma in Trauma Counselling - Willows Counselling and Training, Wiltshire
All above courses are accredited by the CPCAB.
BSc (Hons) Degree in Psychology (2:1) - University of Bristol.
Bereavement Support Foundation Course – Cruse Bereavement Care.
Alongside my private practice I work in a freelance capacity offering well-being support for projects supporting the child sexual abuse survivor community. A current example of this being Upfront Survivors (https://www.sarsas.org.uk/projects/upfront-survivors/).
I have worked as a counsellor in the voluntary sector with Cruse Bereavement Somerset and Sweet Track low-cost counselling service in Glastonbury.
Three years training on Living Tao courses - in depth experiential self-healing courses, with a Taoist perspective, involving breathwork, group process, meditation, and self-compassion practices.
I am committed to my own ongoing personal and professional development. I undertake various training and CPD courses. Recent CPD training includes; Safeguarding, Substance Misuse (Level 2), Integrating Artwork into Counselling Practice, Basic Competencies for Working with Children and Young People and Mindfulness.
Having worked with people belonging to minority groups, I take an intersectional and anti-discriminatory, LGBTQ+ affirmative and neurodiversity affirmative stance and am committed to learning about the impact of discrimination in all forms and examining my own biases and assumptions in the process.
I am a professional member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Environmental anxiety/distress
- Personal Development
- Working with parts of self
- Inner child work
- Shame
- Difficulties with major life changes and transitions
- Identity and belonging
- Repetitive automatic negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours
- Parenting issues
- Connecting to and expressing feelings
- Mind body connection/ embodiment
- Developing greater self-compassion
- Spirituality and purpose
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Fees = £50 per hour (60 minutes).
I also reserve limited concessionary spaces. It is important to me that counselling is affordable and sustainable, therefore I am willing to assess my fees on a case by case basis. I offer a discount for student counsellors/ people on low income.
Weekly and fortnightly session options.
Free introductory phone call (20 minutes) to discuss working together.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
Further information
Client testimonial:
‘As someone who has worked with other counsellors previously, I found that Kate truly listened to what I had asked for. I approached her with specific needs and intentions, and she honoured these throughout the process.
She was able to gently hold space for me whilst I took the lead on what I wanted to cover in the sessions.
These sessions left me feeling heard, held and like my overwhelm had been reduced, which has not been the case with previous counsellors.
I was able to do a lot of processing during my time working with Kate and I truly appreciated her support.’ (Beth - June 2024)
