Kate Heavey

Firstly, it is important to know that coming to therapy is not your fault, or just one of you if you are coming as a couple or two; we only know what is learnt.

Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy

Every experience you have had to date has helped you write the story of your life.   And, it is good enough as you have lived to the ripe age you are.  

From your story, you have created values and beliefs, which inform how you feel about yourself, your relationships, and how you relate in the world.  Have you ever stopped and wondered what, and who, informs your story today?  Whose words you hear?  Maybe you are letting others, or an outdated story, define you and your experiences.  You could be experiencing loss, grief or a bereavement and feel like this is holding you back as you do not understand why you feel as you do?  Or maybe you use alcohol to cope with your life emotions when, each day, you say 'not today' and then there you are again chucking the alcohol down your throat.

Can you imagine being free to choose your life today by understanding why you have the symptoms you do?  Where you have a tool box to help you with life?  A life where you feel equal to others, where you do not fear failure, feel shame or have a need to control others?  Where you can be vulnerable, courageous, brave and 'just' be you?  That is what our work together offers you.

Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy

The reason you are seeking couple counselling will generally fall into 3 categories -

1. To grow, develop or change your relationship.
2. To make a decision about your relationship.
3. To separate amicably.

(Please note options 1 and 2 I work with yet I do not offer separation only counselling)

Reasons you may be seeking couple counselling could be: -

• Conflict / arguing / difference
• Relationship changes (e.g. marriage, parenting, miscarriage, IVF, family death)
• Affairs / betrayal / infidelity / low level of trust
• Attachment issues (avoidance / neediness in relationship)
• Lack of intimacy / sex life
• Communication and difference
• Loss of ability to talk to one another
• Addiction (alcohol, porn, etc.)
• Rejection / abandonment
• Withdrawal of one (or both) partners
• Ghosting
• Unpleasant feelings (fear, sadness, resentment, anger, jealousy, etc.)
• Baggage from past relationships (e.g. trust, trauma, abuse, etc.)
• Family of origin conflict
• Loss of self
• Lost connection with partner.

Benefits of Counselling for Individuals, Couples or Twos

·       Be comfortable in your own skin! 
·       Work through archaic patterns
·       Learn healthier ways of relating with enhanced communication skills
·       Improvement of the self's (self-esteem, self-criticism, self-confidence, self-worth, self-love, self-awareness, self-sabotage, self-compassion, etc.)
·       Healing of past / current trauma
·       Understand the impact of your childhood (mother wound)
·       Embrace 'it is 'ok to not be ok' and 'I am ok, you're ok'*
·       Experience new opportunities with an altered outlook
·       Create a life where you are energised, enthused and contented.

My role

Whether as an individual, couple or two, I am the person who has your back, roots for you, and cheerleads you along your journey as you move to embrace a more harmonious way of living where you are living rather than existing. 

What we each need is HOW - Honesty, Openmindedness and a Willingness as we work together to reach your therapy goals.

This will mean looking at what informs your perspective, looking at how you have learnt to be in the world, and introducing new ways of looking at things.  In a nutshell, we look at 'back then' to see how it informs how you are living 'out there' now.

Who I work with

I work with individuals (age 18+), couples and twos.

I am a Bupa, Axa and Aviva approved counsellor / psychotherapist.

**Note:  If you contact me, and you have not received a reply within 24 hours Monday - Thursday, please do check your junk folder as replies can often be found in there**

Location

I see clients at my home in Alfold in the 'office in the garden'.  This is a south facing conservatory which has a lovely outlook (see photos) where you can hear the sound of running water amongst calmness (Update April 2024 for transparency - there is a local building development so background noise can be heard).

For online and telephone work, I work from an upstairs office to ensure confidentiality. 

*Eric Byrne

Counselling and Psychology Students / Trainees

I am integratively trained in the Clarkson 5 Relational Model and welcome hearing from you.  I am passionate about working with counselling students and feel it is an honour to be chosen to be on your journey of discovery with you.

Walk and Talk Therapy / Outdoor Therapy / Ecotherapy

Being located in Alfold, means I have easy access to the countryside.  45 minute walks are available from two locations in my area.

Utilising nature as part of therapy gives a  grounding experience.  Exercise and movement boosts endorphins offering a break from sitting therapy.

Initial 60 minute session: complimentary for individuals and £40 for couples (due to pre-assessment work)whether this is face to face, online or telephone counselling.

An initial session enables the taking of a brief history and for us to discuss your goals in counselling and how we would work together moving forward.  This is offered when there is a regular weekly appointment time that suits you.

All sessions are 60 minutes, rather than 50 minutes, and costs are:-

Individual counselling - £60

Couple counselling - £80

Counselling students  - £45

(my modality is Clarkson Five Relational Model)

Employee Assisted Programme:-

I am an BUPA, Aviva, AXA and Vitality Health Recognised psychotherapist.

If you are insured with any of these companies you will need to follow their instructions (contacting them, providing me with your policy /approval number and details of how many sessions have been approved).

I am fully insured, have an up-to-date enhanced DBS check and I am ICO registered (GDPR).

I am a Petruska Clarkson Five Relationship Model trained relational counsellor and integrate four different approaches:-  person centred, psychodynamic, existential and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).  I offer a flexible way of working centred on you, the client(s).

My approach includes reflection on the past, creative work, mindfulness, visualisations, drawing, poetry, etc. as all can provide a way of accessing the unconscious mind.