ABOUT
Hi, I'm Kay
Are you feeling alone, unheard or misunderstood? Maybe you feel anxious, angry, or hurt. Do you feel as though no one is there for you or listens to how you are feeling? Maybe you have tried to speak to friends and family but they either just don't get it or tell you what you should or shouldn't be doing and the conversation shifts to their problems. When was the last time someone really sat with you and gave you their undivided attention to talk about how YOU are feeling? What would it feel like to truly be heard and understood? To be able to express how you feel without the worry of being judged or fear of upsetting someone?
By giving you a space to explore the emotions you're experiencing without judgement we can work together to understand what's going on for you. I specialise in grief work, whether it's the death of a loved one, loss of a relationship, self or financial security. Grief & loss comes up a lot with clients. I also work within other areas please see FAQ's for the full list.
As a qualified registered member of both the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) I work within their established ethical codes and frameworks and have an enhanced DBS check. My background includes Human Resources, I hold Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) qualifications and I am also a trained Mental Health First Aider.
Experience
I have been working in a counselling environment for a number of years. I originally trained and worked within Human Resources for a large national multi-disciplinary business where I led on Wellbeing, however, over the years I realised it was people that I wanted to work with and not so much the business processes, therefore I began to study and became an integrative counsellor. During my training and since working as a counsellor I have gained experience within both voluntary and private sectors providing support over a wide range of areas. I began volunteering for the national charity Cruse Bereavement Support back in 2020, presenting Birmingham’s ‘Understanding Your Bereavement’ Webinars and working 1-2-1 with those who are struggling with bereavement. I have a wealth of knowledge around grief work. Many people don’t realise we experience grief and loss in lots of areas of life, not just the death of a loved one. It could be the loss of a job, relationship breakdown, retirement, financial loss, children leaving home etc. I often find working with clients’ grief work comes in somewhere along the line.
I also work with young people, often drawing on creative therapy such as art and play in an integrated approach underpinned by theories of attachment. I believe it is important to create a safe space for the young person so they can feel secure, comfortable, that they are being listened to and understood and that we are attuned to each other. I will often invite them to express their thoughts and feelings through creative means as well as verbal expressions and reflections, in turn helping them to better understand themselves, their experiences and their relationships with others.
Qualifications & CPD
· Foundation Degree in Counselling (CPCAB) – in Progress
· Diploma of Therapeutic Counselling (CPCAB) – Level 4
· Certificate in Counselling Studies (CPCAB) Level 3
· Certificate in Counselling Skills (CPCAB) Level 2
· Human Resources Foundation Certificate (CIPD) Level 3
· Certificate of Higher Education in Psychology (OU)
· Investigating Psychology (OU)
· Introduction to Childhood Studies & Child Psychology (OU)
· Mental Health First Aider (MHFA)
· Bereavement Support Couse – 6 Week Course (Cruse Bereavement Care)
· Working Psychotherapeutically with Eating Disorders (CPD)
· SANDS Supporting families through pregnancy loss & the death of a baby (CPD)
· Cruse – Bereaved by Suicide (CPD)
· Cruse – Loss and Bereavement – Children and Young People (CPD)
· Cruse – Working with Trauma (CPD)
· Cruse – Sensed Presence of the Deceased (CPD)
· Coping with Grief After the Death of a Parent (Julia Samuel) (CPD)
· Supporting Clients Who Self Harm (CPD)
· Winston’s Wish – Childhood Bereavement (CPD)
· Dementia Friends - Working with Dementia (CPD)
· Child Bereavement UK Webinar (CPD)
· Windy Dryden – (CPD)
· Child Trauma & Bereavement Course (Childhood Bereavement Network) (CPD)
· Children, Young People & Pre-Bereavement (Childhood Bereavement Network) (CPD)
· Child Sexual Abuse: Hope for Healing (Carolyn Spring) (CPD)
· Mental Health & the Body: Treating Trauma (Carolyn Spring) (CPD)
· Helping Children through Adversity & Building Emotional Resilience (BACP) (CPD)
· Impact of Anxious Attachment (BACP) (CPD)
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”
Brené Brown
