About me
Psychotherapy in Manchester, Ancoats or Online – for Anxiety, Burnout, Relationships and Life Transitions
Life can look fine on the outside while feeling very different on the inside.
You might be managing a demanding job, holding everything together for other people, or navigating a relationship, family situation, divorce or separation that has left you feeling anxious, exhausted or unsure of yourself. Perhaps you’re used to coping, performing, pleasing, pushing through or keeping busy — but something now feels stuck.
I offer warm, grounded psychotherapy for adults who want to understand themselves more deeply and begin to create meaningful change. Many of the people I work with are professionals, founders, creatives and people in demanding roles who are experiencing anxiety, work-related stress, relationship difficulties, low self-worth, family or parental dynamics, trauma, or a general sense of overwhelm.
My approach is compassionate, thoughtful and collaborative. I won’t offer quick fixes or tell you who to be. Instead, I’ll help you slow things down, make sense of what’s happening, and explore the patterns that may be shaping how you feel, relate and respond.
I’m trained in Transactional Analysis psychotherapy. This is a clear and accessible model that helps us understand the roles, beliefs and relationship patterns we develop — often early in life — and how they may still be influencing us today. Together, we can begin to notice what belongs to the past, what is happening in the present, and what choices may now be possible.
I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is central to good therapy. My priority is to offer a space where you feel emotionally safe, respected and able to bring your full self without fear of judgement. Therapy can be a place to feel seen and understood, but also gently challenged when that feels useful.
Therapy has been life-changing for me. It helped me understand my own story, set healthier boundaries and live more fully. That personal experience deeply informs the way I work: with warmth, honesty, curiosity and care.
Sessions are available online or in person at my calm, private therapy room in Pollard Yard, Manchester, close to Ancoats and New Islington tram stop, there is free parking available. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk about what you’re looking for and whether working together feels like the right fit.
You can contact me through the directory or book an intro call directly here, where there is usually slightly more availability: https://cal.com/kathleen-at-kota
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed my training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy at the South Manchester Centre for Psychotherapy (SMCP), a UKATA-registered and BACP-accredited training organisation. I hold a Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling and have completed over two years of clinical training and supervised practice.
I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work in accordance with their ethical framework. I receive regular supervision from a UKCP-accredited psychotherapist.
My therapeutic approach is grounded in Transactional Analysis (TA), with an integrative and relational style. I support adults with issues such as anxiety, relationship difficulties, divorce recovery, low self-esteem, and burnout.
Before retraining as a therapist, I spent over 20 years in leadership roles in marketing. This background informs my deep understanding of the emotional demands of professional life, creative identity, and life transitions.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 per session
Additional information
I offer a free 15-minute consultation by phone or Zoom so we can explore what’s bringing you to therapy and whether I feel like the right fit for you.
If we decide to go ahead, the first full session is for us to get to know each other and ensure you feel comfortable and safe. We’ll take time to explore what’s been going on for you, what you might like support with, and how I work.
We’ll also cover practicalities like confidentiality, fees, and what to expect from sessions.
Further information
KOTA Therapy is a 10-minute walk from New Islington Metrolink stop. in Ancoats. There is also free secure private parking available. Sessions are 50 minutes long and held in a cosy and comfortable self contained office.
