About Me
Hi, I’m Kate. I’m an AASW accredited mental health social worker who specialises in counselling and psychotherapy. In other words, I’m someone who’s good at listening to others, at helping people to negotiate life’s challenges, and at helping them find the answers that are right for them. I believe that we all have moments where we can benefit from having someone to talk to about what’s troubling us, and sometimes it’s helpful if that person is outside of our circle of friends and family. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to talk freely without having to worry about confidentiality and other people’s reactions. I am particularly passionate about working with young people 12+ years and parents, and I’ve worked for many specialist youth organisations over the years. Additionally, I also enjoy working with adults in general, so I think you could just say that I enjoy working with people!
Who I Help
- Basically, I help people who want to make changes in their lives but don’t quite know how to do this.
- Some people seek increased understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. eg. “Why did I break up with her via a text message?”
- Some come wanting to discover why particular situations seem to keep happening to them. eg. “Why do I keep ending up in fights with my friends?”
- Others aren’t sure exactly what the issues are but know that they want things to be different. eg. “I have my dream job but for some reason I find myself dreading going to work each day.”
- Some come because they have a goal they want to achieve and would like some extra support. “I want to be the best parent I can be”.
One thing I know from nearly 10 years as a counsellor is that no matter how hopeless things seem, there is always room for things to get better.
Specialist Areas
I am a generalist counsellor who is skilled in working with people experiencing a wide range of issues. In my experience focussing on an issue can lead to other things coming to the surface, and it’s important to be able to work with whatever arises. For example, a person may start by coming for help reducing their alcohol use. Achieving this may lead to difficult emotions surfacing that the person has suppressed by using alcohol to self-medicate. These emotions may then turn out to be related to childhood memories. In this situation, being able to follow the client’s process beyond reducing their alcohol use is going to be much more effective than only focussing on their initial stated goal.
That said, key areas that are close to my heart are:
- Youth Specific Issues
- Parenting Difficulties
- Adolescent Development and Challenging Behaviours
- Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
- Drug and Alcohol Use
- Experiences of Trauma
- Mental health Concerns, such as Anxiety and Depression
- Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts
Counselling Values
- I believe that all people are worthy of respect and understanding
- I believe everyone (especially you) has amazing strengths and qualities.
- I believe that the world would be a better place if we all stopped seeing ourselves as inherently flawed and not good enough.
- I believe it’s a privilege to have people trust me and share their vulnerabilities.
- I believe every individual is unique and it’s my job to support them in a way that resonates best with them.
- I believe it’s my responsibility to do the best job I can when someone asks me for help.
- I believe that it takes courage to look at ourselves and our actions, but from this comes greater self-understanding and choice.
- I believe that every time a person speaks about their difficulties and needing help that this should be celebrated as a sign of strength, not weakness.
I'd Love To Hear From You
It takes courage to face our vulnerabilities and ask for help. However, by doing so we create the opportunity for change and living the life we yearn for. That’s why I hope you will take the next step towards your wellbeing and contact me.