Katie Watson
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin
Hello. I'm Katie. Thank you for stopping by.
I am committed to creating a therapeutic space for us that is safe, non-judgemental, empowering and collaborative, where we can actively work towards the change and growth you want to see, and where I walk beside you on your journey as an equal.
As a psychotherapist, I am interested in the stories we tell ourselves, especially those stories that seem to replay at times of stress, loss or great change in our lives, like “I’ll never be good enough” or “this was always going to happen to me”.
At some point in our history, these stories may have enabled us to survive, and they can be incredibly nuanced and multi-layered. These stories can determine how we look out into the world, make sense of it and how we engage with other people. Eventually, these stories may need rewriting, re-evaluating or shedding completely so that we can move forward.
Together we will work to understand your story and how it has led you here. In doing so, this makes room for a new story to be told and a new self to emerge.
A little bit more about me
Aside from my psychotherapy practice, over the past decade, I have worked in the charitable sector with vulnerable and disadvantaged adults within settings such as prisons, addiction agencies, women's centres and further education. I am also a qualified teacher. In 2017, I was awarded a scholarship to train as a trauma-informed writing guide for Write Your Self, a global writing movement aimed at supporting people to reclaim their stories after experiencing trauma. I was the first guide based in the UK to be trained in the methodology.
I am also a published writer and deliver regular classes on using creative writing for therapeutic purposes (please see my website for further information). I have also volunteered as a therapist for the award-winning LGBT Foundation and served on the board of trustees for Greater Manchester Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre for a number of years.
My therapeutic approach
I use Transactional Analysis (TA) as my main way of working, a humanistic and versatile form of therapy that focuses on rediscovering your agency and giving voice to the different parts of ourselves (i.e. feelings, thoughts or behaviours) that we either push aside or keep hidden. TA acknowledges the vibrancy, diversity and complexities of each person and I encourage all of my clients to do their own reading around the model as it is very accessible. I also incorporate other therapeutic tools and approaches into my work to broaden and deepen the therapeutic experience for my clients, such as:
- therapeutic writing / creative writing
- simple trauma-sensitive yoga practices
- creative visualisation
- polyvagal exercises to support with feelings of safety and connection
- emotional freedom technique (also known as EFT or 'tapping').
Any tools that I introduce into our sessions beyond traditional talking therapy will be with your consent, discussed with you first and aligned with your therapeutic goals. You will be able to easily practise any of the tools I use without me at home.
Areas I can help with
I can work with a broad range of issues, and I have a particular interest and experience in these areas:
• Trauma
• LGBTQIA+
• Identity
• Sexuality
• Anxiety and panic
• Depression
• Shame
• Navigating loss, grief and change
• Low self-esteem
• Self-criticism
• Perfectionism
• Relational or relationship difficulties
• Family issues and dynamics
• Workplace difficulties, including stress, burnout and discrimination.
I am a queer, trans-affirmative and neuro-inclusive therapist.
Location
My practice is easily accessible from Aigburth (L17), Mossley Hill (L18), Allerton (L18), Woolton (L25), Speke (L24), Garston (L19), Wavertree (L15), central Liverpool (L1, L2, L3, L8) and Warrington (WA1). I can also work online.
Length of therapy
Ultimately, how many sessions you might need will depend on your goals and the nature of the issues we work on together. The pace and length of our work together is entirely unique and varies from person to person.
If we decide to work together, we would usually meet on the same day at the same time on a weekly basis for 60 minutes. I prefer to see clients weekly to start with and will only switch to fortnightly when we have built a positive foundation. This is to give the therapy the strongest possible start. However, if this might be difficult for you we can discuss this in our introductory session and review as we go.
I offer both short and long-term therapy. If you would like short-term therapy, I ask that we commit to having at least 6 sessions together initially, and then review. I find that this focusses the work and provides a clear date for discussion of progress.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training & Professional Memberships (as of 2025)
- Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA status - in progress)
- Advanced Diploma Award in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Transactional Analysis) Level 7
- Certificate Award in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Transactional Analysis) Level 5
- Externalising the Legacy of Childhood Trauma (Advanced practitioner training for working with clients with complex trauma and dissociation)
- Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) Foundation Programme through the Yoga Clinic UK
- Certified and licensed trauma-writing guide for Write Your Self (therapeutic writing)
- The reality of working with trauma (training for therapists)
- Mental Health First Aider
- Certified facilitator for the Freedom Programme (domestic abuse)
- Certified facilitator for the ACEs Recovery Toolkit programme
- Emotional Freedom Technique - Levels 1 & 2
- Registered Member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- Registered Member of UKATA and EATA (UK Association for Transactional Analysis and European Association for Transactional Analysis) no.30411
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
£55.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I can also accept payment directly from employers for clients who have been offered funded sessions.
When I work
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Please get in touch with me directly for my current availability.
Further information
I offer a free 20 minute initial session where we can get to know each other a little more and chat about the reasons why you've come to therapy. I may ask you some questions about your background just to get a sense of what it is like to be you, and you are welcome to ask me anything about how the process works.
We can also explore any specific goals you may have in mind for therapy. It’s absolutely fine if you are unsure of what your goals are at this stage - often, these naturally become clearer as we're going along. Here, I use 'goal' in the broadest sense. We can use our initial session to discuss practical arrangements too, like what day and time it would be suitable to meet etc.
