Dr Kay Capaldi
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About me
A space to understand yourself, transform painful patterns, and build healthier relationships
In-person Psychotherapy and Couples Therapy in Chelsea (SW3), Sloane Square (SW1W) and Fulham (SW6) | Online Worldwide.
Do you find yourself caught in cycles of anxiety, self-doubt or self-criticism? Perhaps you understand your difficulties intellectually but still struggle with painful emotions, familiar patterns or relationships that leave you feeling disconnected, insecure or misunderstood. You may be navigating a difficult life experience, feeling stuck, or simply wanting to understand yourself more deeply.
Whatever brings you to therapy, you do not have to work through it alone.
I'm Dr Kay Capaldi, a psychotherapist, researcher and educator with over 20 years of clinical experience. I offer a warm, compassionate and collaborative space where you can explore what is happening in your life, make sense of your emotional experiences and develop a healthier relationship with yourself and others.
Understanding yourself and creating meaningful change
My approach goes beyond managing symptoms. I am interested in understanding the deeper emotional and relational experiences that shape how we see ourselves, respond to challenges and connect with others.
Sometimes, we recognise our patterns but find it difficult to change them. We may become caught in self-criticism, anxiety, avoidance or familiar ways of relating that no longer serve us. Therapy can help you explore where these patterns come from, understand the feelings beneath them and discover new ways of responding.
I aim to create a therapeutic relationship in which you feel heard and accepted without judgement, while also being supported to reflect, explore difficult feelings and consider new possibilities. Our work combines empathy and understanding with thoughtful exploration and gentle challenge, at a pace that feels right for you.
My aim is not to offer a one-size-fits-all solution, but to help you develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience and freedom in how you relate to yourself, others and the world around you.
How I can help
I work with individuals experiencing a range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including:
- Anxiety, social anxiety and depression
- Low self-esteem, self-criticism and difficulties with identity
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress
- Overwhelming emotions and recurring behavioural patterns
- Relationship difficulties, attachment concerns and family issues
- Bereavement, loss and significant life changes
- Chronic illness and health-related stress
- Addiction and difficulties with emotional regulation
- Workplace stress, performance anxiety and personal or professional transitions
You do not need to have a clear explanation for what you are experiencing before starting therapy. We can begin with what feels most important to you and work together to understand what might help.
Couples therapy: understanding the patterns between you
Relationships can become painful when the same disagreements recur, communication breaks down or emotional distance develops. You may find yourselves caught in cycles of criticism and defensiveness, withdrawal and pursuit, or feeling misunderstood despite wanting to reconnect.
In couples therapy, I offer a supportive space to explore these patterns and understand the emotional needs, fears and experiences that may lie beneath them. Rather than focusing only on individual disagreements, we can look at what happens between you, how each of you responds and how these responses affect your connection.
Drawing on Emotion-Focused Therapy and attachment-based approaches to couples work, I support couples to communicate more openly, understand one another more deeply and work towards a more secure and fulfilling relationship.
My therapeutic approach
My practice is integrative and tailored to your individual needs and goals. I draw on complementary therapeutic approaches, including:
- Emotion-Focused Therapy: Exploring and transforming difficult emotions, including anxiety, shame, fear and self-criticism.
- Person-Centred Therapy: Developing a therapeutic relationship grounded in empathy, acceptance and understanding.
- Humanistic-Experiential Therapy: Exploring your lived experience, emotional awareness and sense of authenticity.
- Relational Therapy: Understanding how your experiences and patterns of relating influence your relationships with yourself and others.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Identifying strengths, possibilities and practical steps towards meaningful change.
- Trauma-focused approaches: Supporting the sensitive exploration and processing of difficult or traumatic experiences.
The approaches I use depend on what you bring to therapy. Our work is collaborative, with space to explore your experiences in depth while also identifying new perspectives and ways forward.
Clinical experience, research and professional background
Alongside my clinical practice, I have extensive experience as a Senior Lecturer in Therapeutic Psychology, Counselling and Mental Health. I have designed and delivered undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, trained psychotherapists and supervised postgraduate research in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
I hold a PhD and an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Strathclyde. My doctoral research explored negative self-treatment and the relationship people have with themselves, particularly in the context of social anxiety. This continues to inform my clinical interest in self-criticism, emotional difficulties and the ways we learn to relate to ourselves.
My postgraduate training includes extensive study in Emotion-Focused Therapy, including advanced training and attachment-based interventions for couples in crisis, alongside training in Person-Centred and Humanistic-Experiential Therapy and clinical supervision.
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). I also hold professional indemnity insurance and enhanced DBS and PVG certification.
Taking the first step
Starting therapy can feel daunting, particularly if you are used to managing difficulties on your own or are unsure where to begin. You do not need to have everything worked out before you start.
Whether you are seeking support with anxiety, wanting to understand yourself more deeply, working through a difficult experience or hoping to rebuild connection in your relationship, therapy offers an opportunity to pause, reflect and explore a different way forward.
If you feel that my approach might be right for you, you are welcome to get in touch. We can discuss what has brought you to therapy and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- PhD, Counselling & Psychotherapy, University of Strathclyde
- MSc, Counselling & Psychotherapy, University of Strathclyde
- Postgraduate Certification, Emotion Focused Therapy Levels I, II, III, & Masterclasses, University of Strathclyde
- Postgraduate Certification, Developing Supervision Practice, University of Strathclyde
- Postgraduate Degree, Person-Centred Therapy, University of Strathclyde
- Postgraduate Degree, Academic Practice, University of Strathclyde
Training & CPD
- Emotionally Focused Therapy: Attachment-Based Interventions for Couples in Crisis
- Dr. Alexandra Solomon’s Couple Therapy Certification
- Couples Therapy Intensive: Navigating Modern Relationships
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- COSCA Counselling Skills
- ASIST Suicide Intervention Training
- Alcohol and Brief Intervention Training
- Postgraduate Certification, Stress Management and Coping Skills
- Postgraduate Diploma, Zen Shiatsu Therapy
- Postgraduate Diploma, Holistic Therapy
- THETA Healing Advanced DNA Training
- Sundoor Master Firewalking and Empowerment Instructor Training
- Usui Reiki Master/Teacher
- Shamanic Studies
Experience
- Emotion-Focused Therapy for social anxiety, generalised anxiety, and depression
- Trauma and abuse support within a community stress centre setting
- Grief, loss, anxiety, and coping strategies, ensuring compassionate, person-centred care during end-of-life transitions in a hospice setting
- Specialised therapy supporting patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families through individual and group sessions
- Treatment of stress-related difficulties, trauma, anxiety, and depression in long-term clinical practice
- Brief therapy addressing work-related stress and related challenges
- Counselling and support for drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions in both community and residential rehabilitation settings
- Comprehensive psychological assessment, support, and supervision within a clinical research setting
- Private practice addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, inner conflict, emotional difficulties, bereavement, chronic illness, self-harm, relationship issues, addiction, anger, mental health challenges, eating disorders, abuse, sexuality, low self-esteem, financial issues, and major life transitions
- Senior Lecturer responsible for teaching and course development in BSc Therapeutic Psychology & Counselling, BSc Psychology (Clinical & Mental Health), and MSc Counselling & Psychotherapy, as well as serving as a research supervisor for the MA Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy
- Designing and delivering personal and professional development programmes, including transformational events, workshops, and retreats
Research
- PhD research: Decoding Negative Treatment of Self: Comprehensive Measurement and Diverse Presentations in Socially Anxious Clients
Publications
- Negative Treatment of Self in Socially Anxious Clients https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14779757.2023.2201937
- https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/kay-capaldi
Professional Registrations
- Registered member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (MBACP)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA): Awarded in recognition of meeting the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) for excellence in teaching and learning support within higher education
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
£150.00 - £200.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Therapy sessions are available in person, online, or in a flexible hybrid format, each lasting 50 minutes. Fees range from £150-£180 for individual therapy and £170-£200 for couples therapy, with savings for 6 or 12 session packages.
I also offer a limited number of extended 75-minute couples therapy sessions on Saturday mornings, providing additional time and space for couples to explore relationship patterns, communication difficulties, and areas of concern in greater depth. Saturday extended sessions are available by advance booking and are priced from £220 per session.
To help you decide if we’re the right fit, I offer a complimentary 20-minute online consultation.
When I work
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Further information
Psychotherapy • Couples Therapy • Assessment • Coaching • Training • Consultancy
Available online, in-person, or through a flexible hybrid format.
Over 20 years of clinical experience
Informed by contemporary psychological thinking, my integrative, person-centred approach is tailored to your individual needs, offering a thoughtful and compassionate space for exploration, self-understanding and change.
