About me
It takes courage to decide to have counselling. I have had counselling myself, so I understand the thought of trusting someone with all our anxieties, shame, and fears can be daunting. I believe the relationship between counsellor and client is crucial, and I want you to feel comfortable and at ease working with me.
Sharing our innermost thoughts, feelings and experiences can really help us to make sense of things in our head. It can give us a healthier perspective and empower us to move forward positively. If we understand ourselves better and have more acceptance and compassion for ourselves it really helps. My hope in our work together is that burdens are lightened, you feel clearer, more confident and more positive.
My role involves helping you to explore your self honestly, provide insight, validation, education and acceptance where appropriate. Improving our relationship with ourselves often helps our relationships with others too. There's no magic wand unfortunately, but we can work together to seek the best solutions or strategies for you.
My client's tell me they don't want to burden family and friends with their problems, and that's natural and why I am here. Maybe you have no-one to really talk to, and feel isolated with your problems. They can often then feel larger than they are.
Whether you feel overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, sad, angry, stressed, out of control or numb, talking through things can make a difference.
I support people from all backgrounds and walks of life. I counsel young people from 16 years old, all adults and seniors. I work in a confidential private practice setting.
I am trained as a Humanistic counsellor, and am influenced by the Humanistic approaches to counselling. This means our time together will focus on you and what you want to talk about in each session.
The first session
Our first session will be about getting to know you, discussing what brings you to counselling and what you hope counselling will change or provide. You can get a feel for the counselling room, and we get to meet and see if we would like to work together. In this session I will take some personal details and ask some questions to understand things. We will establish what you want to get from counselling and how we may work together. You can ask me any questions so you feel fully informed, including how counselling works if this is new to you. I make a few notes in this session although this is usually the only time notes are taken.
Counselling young people
Young people experience many pressures in today's world. Navigating their lives at a time of huge physical, mental and emotional transition from child to adult can be distressing, confusing and overwhelming. Young people typically experience emotional vulnerability and relationship difficulties at this important life stage.
I support young people in making sense of this challenging time. Positive validation of strengths and possibilities develops their understanding of who they are and promotes self confidence, acceptance and esteem. I ensure counselling work is age appropriate and adapted to each young person to honour their individual stage of maturity. Alongside conversation we may use play, creative media, practical techniques and strategies.
I provide a friendly, compassionate, honest, non-judgemental environment so young people feel at ease to talk about themselves and their experiences. I have experience of working with various problems like low self esteem, depression and anxiety.
I am happy to discuss individual situations and problems with parents and carers who feel concerned for their young person and would like further information or support. Please feel free to contact me to discuss how sessions may be structured.
Experience
As well as working in private practice, I have had past experience of working within specific settings across Kent.
This includes;
Working in primary and secondary schools with all year groups, and supporting looked-after children in foster placements. Working in a Kent hospice, supporting people through personal illness, terminal diagnosis, and bereavement.
Working within Women's refuges across Kent, supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
Working with addiction and recovery within a Kent Drug and Alcohol Agency.
Making contact
The best way to contact me is by text or email. I have my phone switched off when I am counselling, and after work, so please leave a message and I will get in touch as soon as I can.
I am happy to answer any questions or concerns you have before making an appointment.
I am flexible about the number or frequency of counselling sessions you wish to have. Weekly counselling sessions is beneficial to begin with, however I will be guided by your requirements and personal situation so you remain in control. We will review how things are going, so can make changes as and when necessary.
Qualifications
I am a fully qualified professional with more than 12 years counselling experience post qualification. I studied a CPCAB course which is a recognised, reputable training body within counselling and psychotherapy.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I can be found on their website, and work to their ethical code of conduct. I have an enhanced DBS check and am fully insured.
Testimonials
”I had not had counselling before, and the first thing that struck me on meeting Kate was how warm and personable she was. Kate provided me a space for me which always felt safe and honest, and I was able to explore my feelings without feeling judged or dismissed, both when we were together in person and by Zoom. My first experience of counselling could not have been any better - Thanks Kate.
Amanda - student
”Thank you for everything you have done over the years to help my daughter through her anxieties, it has been so appreciated and has made a huge difference not just to her but to all of us - things seem much more hopeful now whereas in the past we had some desperate moments, but this seems far away these days.”
Emily - mother of 12 year old client
”Kate I am so grateful to you. I genuinely felt lighter and happier after each session. You have made a difference to me, and I hope I don’t ever need to return to counselling, but if I did I wouldn’t hesitate to contact you again. Many thanks.”
Dominic
“I would recommend Kate to anyone wishing to find a good counsellor. She is an amazing lady and has helped me through some very distressing times always being so gentle and accepting. When I felt like I had no one to really talk to, she was always reliably there, helping me to see things in a different perspective and I now feel so much more confident and positive.”
Claire
Training, qualifications & experience
Over 10 years experience in counselling
CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Skills
CPCAB Certficate in Counselling Studies
CPCAB Certificate in Working with Children
Thought Field Therapy Algorithm practitioner
Neuroscience and Attachment training
Working with boundaries
Working with young people and children with SEN Mindfulness and compassionate living
I have previous counselling experience within the following fields:
- Domestic violence: counselling within women’s refuges in Kent
- Bereavement and grief: counselling within Ellenor hospice in Kent
- Schools: counselling parents and young people in schools across Kent
- Looked-after children: counselling young people in foster care placement
- Place2be: school based counselling in Kent
- Addictions: counselling within CRI drug/alcohol agency
- CPCAB Tutor: level 3 training for student counsellors in counselling skills
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.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 - £60.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Counselling sessions are 50 minutes.
Adult counselling - £60
Young people 16-18yrs - £60
Student counsellors - £50
(reduced rate for adults currently enrolled on a level 4 diploma counselling course which requires personal therapy as part of the course requirements. Reduced rate ends upon course completion)
Limited number of consessions available in special circumstances. Please ask for further information.
Payment for the first counselling session is required at the time of booking to secure the appointment. Thank you.
For all further appointments, payment is due the day before the booked counselling session.
My bank account details are provided prior to the first session.
When I work
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Further information
My counselling room is in a central but discreet location which is easily accessible
Plenty of free parking space
Please be aware that unfortunately I am unable to start earlier than our agreed appointment time if you arrive early; or extend the session time if you are late arriving. Arriving for your appointment at the agreed time is most appreciated. Many thanks.
When counselling young people, unfortunately I do not have a waiting area for parents/carers to wait whilst their young person has their counselling session. Parents/carers will need to drop off and collect their young people at the start and end of each appointment.
Parents/carers are welcomed into the counselling room to meet me and see the room for themselves in the young person’s first session. This ensures everyone feels comfortable with all arrangements. There is a local pub nearby where parents/carers can purchase refreshments whilst they wait, or alternatively they are very welcome to wait in their vehicle outside. Many thanks.
