Katy Acton

Professional Credentials

My name is Katy Acton (MBACP) and I am a warm professional counsellor and psychotherapist. I have a first class degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and over 13 years experience in working with clients. I am an Accredited Registered member (number 98695) of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their ‘Ethical framework for the counselling professions’. 

Motivation

I decided to change from a corporate career and train as a Counsellor, after counselling helped me through a very difficult time in my life.  So I have experience of being a counselling client and have experienced its positive affects on my own life.  I also understand that it can be difficult to take that first step and seek support; then meet a stranger to share your vulnerabilities.  My understanding of this motivates me to create a safe accepting space and greet my clients with warmth and acceptance.  I have received lots of client feedback over the years, to say that talking to a stranger can feel quite liberating.  I don’t know anything about your life or relationships, so can be completely objective without emotional investment in any outcomes. This is where counselling massively differs from speaking to a friend or family member.  

As an individual, I am committed to being trustworthy, sincere and acting with integrity.  I have the best interests of my clients at heart. 

My Approach

My client is always at the heart of my practice. I'm an integrative therapist, which means I use several approaches to therapy into one model of helping. I believe each individual benefits from an approach tailored to their personality and what they are experiencing in their life. Working in an integrative way gives me the freedom to achieve this.  

I work with the psychodynamic approach to understand how my client’s past experiences may be shaping their present reality. The humanistic approach, through accepting my clients as they are, unconditionally and providing an accepting non-judgemental environment, in which I hope my clients will feel safe.  And Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to help my clients to move forward with coping strategies, goals and thought-pattern challenging.  As well as theories and skills, my training included; neuroscience, psychopathology and multicultural counselling; all of which inform my knowledge and work.

I am also a trained children’s Yoga Teacher and my knowledge of mindfulness, gratitude and the power of the breath, also underpin and inform my approach.

I have completed training in creative interventions and working non-verbally; this may include drawing, working with toy animals or using pictures. I will always be client-led when deciding to work this way.

Above all else, I am here to listen and support without judging.

Specialisms 

Although I can offer support for most problems (and will be honest with you and signpost to another therapist/support avenue if I can't).  I am particularly experienced in working with: bereavement (humans and pets) and loss, relationships (romantic, work, friendship and parenting), anxiety, worry, imposter syndrome, stress management, depression, historical abuse, domestic violence, self-harm, trauma, disordered eating and disordered alcohol use.  

Additional information

I sincerely believe in the power of journalling and have published wellbeing (The Whole of Me Wellbeing Journal by Katy Acton) and gratitude journals, both available for purchase on Amazon. I believe the processes of journalling and going to therapy alongside each other, is very beneficial to increasing self awareness and understanding.  Key attributes in recognising and making the changes that you desire. 

I have a diploma in Sydney Bank’s Three Principles Life Coaching method. This approach aims to recognise your inner purpose and explore ways in which you may be self-sabotaging your achievement of this. One of the key principles in this method is the relevance of thought in shaping our reality. This can be explored through new awareness of your thinking patterns and the influence of your inner voice. Hopefully, this process will help you to discover what is stopping you from reaching your full potential, improve your self-esteem and cultivate a growth mindset. As an integrative therapist, my life coaching training informs and underpins my practice and interventions.

I am trained in Single Session Counselling (SSC) and offer this approach in my private practice, in person and online. This involves completing a pre-counselling questionnaire, followed by a one-off counselling session of up to an hour. Single Session Counselling helps people with a specific problem that we will focus on for the session.  We will use the pre-session questionnaire to focus our work intention for the session. 

I am qualified to use the Rewind technique for those struggling with PTSD and trauma flashbacks.  This technique is sometimes referred to as 'closure without disclosure', as it doesn't involve you speaking about the traumatic memory.  It's an approach used to 'file' the memory into your long-term memory, where it will not be forgotten but is less likely to be involuntary recalled. 

I also offer self-development workshops on thoughts and worry.

I hold a free monthly drop-in bereavement group in Leigh-on-Sea on the second Tuesday of every month at 10.30am.  The details are on my website or email with questions. 

If you have read about me and think that you would like to meet (online or in person) and work together, please send me an email and we can arrange our first session. 

I am experienced in working with teenagers and can work with: 15-19 year olds in person and 16-19 year olds online. I will need parental consent when working with under 18’s.

I have published blogs on my website, about bereavement, sadness, coping strategies and exam-related stress. Please see website, blog page for details. 

£50 per session for ongoing counselling via any medium. 

£65 for single session counselling (this involves completing a questionnaire before the session. Then focusing on one issue. It’s a brief solution-focused approach).

Free telephone introduction session lasts 15 minutes upon request. Please note this isn’t a therapy session - it’s a chance for you to see if you feel comfortable talking to me and ask any questions. Please email me to request this call. 

Discounted places for trainee counsellors, where a certain number of sessions is required - please email to inquire. £25 online and £35 in person - minimum of 10 sessions. 

I offer weekly, fortnightly and monthly sessions. Please email to inquire. 

Session Information

I offer 50 minute sessions (other 10 minutes of the hour is for client notes), ideally to take place on the same day and at the same time each week.  I also offer fortnightly sessions if this works better financially or to fit around other commitments - please email me to enquire. 

I work in person in Leigh-on-Sea, Online and by Telephone. 

Cancellation Policy

24 hour cancellation policy, otherwise full fee may be charged.

If cancellation is due to illness or emergency and it has not been possible to give 24 hours notice, 50% of the fee will be charged. 

Client age group

Adults. 
15-17 year olds with parental consent. 
16-17 year olds online counselling with parental consent.