About me
Hello! I'm Katy
I'm a clinical psychologist
I’ve been studying and working in psychology services since 1999. I love my job; I’ve never wanted to do anything else.
I reluctantly left my NHS post after our third child was born and my salary no longer covered the childcare bill. I planned to start a small private practice in early 2020.
But then Covid-19 threw a bomb under all our plans. I became an accidental stay-at-home mum and home educator overnight. My days were spent surviving the parenting hell of lockdowns, online primary school and toddler wrangling. I spent my evenings reading up and training on parental wellbeing. There was a fair bit of Netflix, wine and crisps involved too.
Now I’m back in work after that hiatus, armed with extra knowledge, training and lots of life experience. I’m pleased to be offering online therapy for those people close to my heart; stressed out parents.
i'm a mum of three
Like so many new parents, I was shocked by the difference between what I thought parenthood would be like and what it’s actually like. I’m not the ideal mother figure that I had in my head and my children are nothing like the fantasy children I’d imagined.
There’s so much that we don’t know about until we become parents – the daily grind, the mental load, how parenthood pushes all your buttons and drags up the tricky parts of your childhood history, how it ambushes your relationships, your career, your identity.
Becoming a parent turned the volume up on all my emotions. I’ve been delighted by deep joy, excitement, pride and love and also floored by anxiety, anger, guilt and self-criticism at times.
I love my children and being a parent is my most treasured role. But nothing has stretched me like parenthood has. It’s led me to a fascination with the science of parental wellbeing and I’d love to share with you what I’ve learned.
how i work with clients
I don’t believe that there are ‘bad parents’; only parents who need better support.
We’ll reframe parenting stress as a simple matter of imbalance between the demands on you and the resources you have available to deal with them. We’ll work together to improve your balance.
You’ll learn how to soothe your frazzled nervous system and handle difficult emotions like anxiety, anger and guilt.
I’ll be your biggest cheerleader and I’ll show you how to support and encourage yourself better.
Together, we’ll get you back on track.
Training and Qualifications
- Parental Burnout Diagnosis and Treatment (Training Institute for Parental Burnout)
- Various Compassion Focused Therapy trainings including for postnatal depression
- Various Acceptance and Commitment Therapy trainings including several for parental mental health
- Maternal Mental Health Certificate (Postpartum Support International)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals, Couples and Families (Dr. Sue Johnson)
- ClinPsyD - Clinical Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University of Manchester, 2016)
- PhD - Research Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Bangor University, 2009)
- PGCert in Primary Care Mental Health (University of Huddersfield, 2005)
- MSc in Foundations of Clinical Psychology (Bangor University, 2004)
- BSc (Hons) Psychology (University of Leeds, 2002)
Kind Words from Colleagues & Clients
Getting started is EASY
one
Book your free 15 min video call and we’ll discuss your hopes for therapy and see whether we’re a good fit
two
We’ll book in 1 or 2 online assessment sessions to explore your difficulties and make a plan for therapy
three
We’ll book regular online therapy sessions and work together on our plan to get you back on track.
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