MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy
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I’m Katie, a person-centred counsellor and therapist. This page offers a little more about me and how I work, to help you decide whether counselling with me feels right for you.
My approach
I work from a person-centred approach, which places you at the centre of the counselling process. This means that I won’t tell you what to think or do, or assume what might be right for you.
Instead, I aim to offer a warm, non-judgemental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences at your own pace. I trust in people’s capacity to make sense of their lives when they feel heard, understood, and accepted.
I believe that when people feel truly heard, understood, and accepted, meaningful growth and change can become possible.
A little bit of theory
The person-centred approach was developed by Carl Rogers and is grounded in the belief that people have an innate capacity for growth and change when the right conditions are present. Central to this way of working are empathy, authenticity, and acceptance, which form the foundation of the therapeutic relationship. You don’t need to understand counselling theory for counselling to be helpful — the focus is on the quality of the relationship and the space we create together.
The therapeutic relationship
Research consistently suggests that the quality of the therapeutic relationship plays a central role in how helpful counselling feels. With this in mind, my approach is grounded in openness, empathy, and building a genuine therapeutic relationship where we can work together at your pace.
Rather than offering advice or trying to “fix” you; I aim to provide a warm, safe, and supportive space where you feel able to bring your true self, explore your experiences openly and feel accepted as you are.
What can I expect from sessions?
Counselling sessions offer a space for you to talk openly about whatever feels important to you. Some people arrive with a clear sense of what they want to explore, while others feel less sure — both are completely welcome.
Sessions are not about performing or finding the “right” words. Silence, uncertainty, and exploration are all part of the process. We can talk about past experiences, present concerns, relationships, or feelings that are difficult to name.
We work at your pace, and you remain in control of what you bring and how the work unfolds.
Who do I work with?
I work one-to-one with adults aged 18 and over.
People come to counselling for many different reasons. You might be navigating something specific, such as loss, change, or uncertainty, or you may simply notice that things feel difficult without a clear reason.
You’re welcome to bring whatever feels important to you; whether that’s something current, ongoing, something from the past or even something you are unable to name or find hard to put into words.
Experience
I’ve worked with people bringing a range of concerns and life experiences; including workplace dynamics and stress, bullying, relationship struggles, family issues, experiences of loss and bereavement, miscarriage and fertility, low self esteem, anxiety and depression and physical or mental health conditions, amongst other experiences.
I approach each person as an individual, rather than as a set of difficulties or labels.
Whilst I do not diagnose or assess mental health conditions; I do recognise that diagnoses can be important or meaningful for some people. Where this is the case, we can explore what a diagnosis means for you and how it fits within your wider experience.
Professional background
I am a registered member (no. 418234) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). My practice is guided by the BACP Ethical Framework.
I engage in regular supervision and ongoing professional development to support safe and reflective practice.
I hold a Master's Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Level 7).
Before training as a counsellor, I gained experience across a range of roles in both the public and private sectors, including supporting people from diverse backgrounds who faced barriers such as language differences, experiences of the criminal justice system, mental health difficulties, addiction and more.
I have also worked in management and other organisational settings. Alongside counselling I continue to work in a non counselling role. While this work is not counselling-based, it has deepened my understanding of workplace dynamics, responsibility, pressure, and the impact these environments can have on wellbeing.
This breadth of experience informs my counselling practice, helping me remain mindful of the wider systems, expectations, and roles that can shape people’s lives alongside their personal experiences.
My research
As part of my MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy, I undertook qualitative research exploring experiences related to fertility, the biological clock, expectations around motherhood and pregnancy loss.
This research explored how experiences of identity, expectation, and loss are shaped not only by personal circumstances, but also by wider social and cultural narratives — including gendered expectations, ideas about “timelines,” and assumptions about what life should look like.
It also recognised how loss can be experienced in many ways, including pregnancy loss, loss of fertility, time, choice or imagined futures.
The research highlighted how a lack of empathy, or the use of minimising or poorly chosen language, can leave experiences feeling unseen or invalidated.
This work has shaped how I understand that experiences are always held within a wider context, and that meaning is deeply personal. This awareness also informs how I work beyond these specific themes, as I’m mindful that everyone’s experience is shaped by their own context, values, and circumstances. My role is not to interpret or define what something should mean for you, but to offer a space where your experience can be explored on its own terms.
Reaching out
Reaching out can feel daunting, and it’s completely understandable to feel uncertain about beginning counselling. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting. I believe we are all human, shaped by our experiences and relationships, and sometimes having a safe space to feel heard and understood can be an important place to begin.