Catherine Thomson, BACP

Catherine Thomson, who prefers to go by Kate, is a fully qualified counsellor and a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). With five years of experience, she works with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families to address a wide range of life challenges. Her practice supports people facing changes in family dynamics, bereavement and other kinds of loss such as work or home, illness, accident or trauma, depression, anxiety and stress related to the past, present or future. She also assists clients dealing with isolation, loneliness, social difficulties, bullying, body image concerns and a broad spectrum of relationship and personal issues.

Kate works from a person-centred foundation while integrating creative and solution-focused tools chosen to suit each individual. She uses approaches such as sand tray work, Russian dolls, letter writing, vision boards, mindfulness, psychoeducation, narrative techniques and play therapy to help clients explore feelings and build new perspectives. Her work emphasises practical change - supporting clients to manage thoughts and behaviours, regulate emotion, reduce anxiety, set meaningful goals, assert personal boundaries and clarify values so they can move forward with greater confidence.

Her professional background includes roles with charitable organisations such as Mind and Action for Carers, as well as work in the private sector for BUPA and in her own practice. She has supported couples and individuals both face to face and online, and brings experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations. Before training as a counsellor she held a variety of roles, from running businesses to corporate positions and serving as chairperson of a school Parent Teacher Association. Her style is warm, non-judgemental and professional, offering flexible, tailored support while guiding clients to make their own choices and build practical skills for wellbeing.

Therapeutic Approaches That Work Well Online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them, and then move toward actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress and life transitions where avoidance has become a problem. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in relationships that often originate in early connections; by exploring attachment styles clients can improve intimacy, trust and emotional regulation in relationships. Client-Centred Therapy emphasises empathy, unconditional acceptance and the client’s own capacity for growth - it supports people who need a compassionate, non-directive space to explore identity, grief, self-esteem and personal goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Catherine will work collaboratively to identify which methods fit each client’s needs, goals and preferences. She tailors techniques and adapts sessions to what feels most helpful, inviting clients to participate in decisions about their care.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter conversations are possible by live chat or text-based messaging. This range of options makes it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments, supports access for people who travel or live abroad, and allows therapists and licensed professionals to maintain continuity of care across different stages of life.