About me
Hello, my name is Kate. I am a qualified integrative counsellor with over 30 years experience of working with a diverse range of clients and complex issues, within the field of Mental Health, Trauma, Addiction, Family Therapy, Anxiety and Emotional Wellbeing.
I am a registered member of the British association of counselling and psychotherapy (BACP), and I adhere to their framework of ethical practice. I offer a warm, safe and confidential space for you to explore whatever is troubling you without judgement.
Through our working together, you can gain a greater awareness and understanding of what is going on for you. Within a safe and therapeutic environment, conflicting feelings, self defeating thoughts and unhelpful patterns of behaviour can be explored, made sense of and processed. New ways of viewing yourself and your relationships, can help you feel more empowered, hopeful and confident, improving self worth to accept opportunities that may currently feel out of reach.
Counselling Style
Intergrative counselling means I use a range of therapeutic approaches, depending on the individual needs of the client. My counselling style is relational and person centred as I believe the client can find their own solutions, at their own pace, when the therapeutic conditions for change are present. My practice is trauma informed, which is designed to reduce the negative impact of traumatic experiences and enhance positive physical and emotional wellbeing of clients.
Fear and shame can leave people feeling isolated and uncomfortable in sharing their problems with others. My approach is sensitive and supportive, with an emphasis on building trust and safety within the therapeutic relationship. This foundation facilitates clients to build capacity and resilience to explore and develop all parts of themselves.
I use elements of humanistic and psychodynamic theory, gestalt, transactional analysis, CBT, systemic family theory, Internal family systems theory, body/somatic awareness and mindfulness practice. The above approaches allow clients to feel seen and heard. Feeling witnessed and having your lived experience validated within the therapeutic relationship can be healing and transformative.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training
I have training in working therapeutically with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, self harm, addiction, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, OCD, abuse, domestic violence and complex post traumatic stress disorder.
My training has also included how long term stress and trauma can be held within the body and manifest as physical pain and chronic health conditions. This training informs my practice by ensuring I attend to clients in a holistic way that involves integration between the mind and body experience.
Experience
I have experience of working in a variety of adult Mental Health settings within the NHS and charitable sector; Including drug and alcohol rehabilitation, forensic Mental Health rehabilitation, supporting clients and their carer's in mental health crisis and working as part of a family therapy team. I worked for 4 years at a charity supporting and counselling adults with a history of childhood trauma and addiction.
I can work with and hold whatever you choose to bring to counselling. I have experience in working with anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, work stress, life transitions, loss and grief, low self worth/esteem, bullying, neurodiversity, traumatic experiences, addiction, emotional dysregulation, self harm, suicidal thoughts, sexual abuse, dissociation, shame, anger and self defeating patterns of behaviour.
Modern life conditions us to distract and disconnect from ourselves and our intuition to be present and make informed decisions that benefit our wellbeing. This disconnection from self can have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relationships, working life, concentration and decision making. I am passionate about sharing the importance of developing self care, self compassion, and finding meaning and connection as a way to promote self worth and emotional resilience when navigating through the trials of life. Learning to be on your own side reduces self criticism and anxiety. Therefore I also welcome clients looking to undertake counselling for their personal growth and development.
Qualifications
- Post graduate diploma in counselling. (UWE,2015).
- Certificate in Somatic trauma therapy. (Babette Rothschild, 2017).
- Transactional analysis 101. (UWE, 2015).
- Certificate in counselling. (UWE, 2013).
- Systemic family therapy, Intermediate level. (Bristol University, 2004).
- Systemic family therapy, In context. (Bristol University, 2002).
- Diploma in Mental Health and Nursing studies. (UWE, 1995).
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
As anxiety and burnout are increasing in our modern age, we need to find ways to regulate our nervous systems from constant activation and overwhelm.
I help clients learn to be on their own side, by fostering self compassion for all parts of self, especially the parts that we dislike. This practice encourages a more stable sense of self worth that isn't dependant on external validation, success or social comparison.
Once we start treating ourselves as a friend we care about, we become better equipped to navigate our lives, showing up more authentically and putting boundaries in place that can bring about the change we are seeking.
I also focus on reducing anxiety through curiosity and understanding what role it plays in your life. Introducing mindful breathing and somatic exercise for regulating the nervous system in sessions, which help bring about sustained changes when practiced regularly.
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 - £65.00
Additional information
I offer counselling to individuals from 18 years and above.
I charge £40 for an initial 60 minute consultation.
£55 for 60 minute zoom/telephone sessions
£60 for 60 minute in person sessions BS9 area.
I also offer walk and talk sessions on the downs, or counselling in your own home, local to BS9 area. fee is £65
Please get in touch for further details.
When I work
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I can offer more flexibility with on line sessions re fortnightly or adhoc sessions for shift workers etc.
I do not currently have any face to face avaliability.
Further information
What to expect
I offer short term focused counselling (6-12 sessions) and longer term, (open ended counselling). We would meet for a consultation and discuss what your needs are. This is a chance for you to ask questions and think about why you have come for counselling and what you would like to gain from the experience.
The consultation is also an opportunity for you to see what it would feel like to work with me. It is important for you to reflect on your experience before deciding to choose a therapist.
We would initially schedule 6 sessions and then review how the counselling is going for you, if you wish to continue and how many sessions you are likely to require.
