I am a white female person-centred counsellor in my early 50s. I am registered with the BACP (accredited by the Professional Standards Authority) and a member of the Person Centred Association. In addition to general counselling, I have a specialist practice in CBT-E for eating disorders and I also hold a coaching certificate. My practice is based in Woodford, East London.

My experience is broad.

Counselling – the majority of the clients I have worked with have been struggling with feelings of anxiety, depression, worries, general unhappiness and often associated relationship difficulties.
Eating disorder treatment (CBT-E) – this a specialist treatment, see my other webpage.
Coaching – my certificate was gained in the context of health coaching, see my other webpage.

My qualifications

I gained a Diploma in person-centred counselling from Metanoia Institute in 2017. As part of my training I undertook placements at Mind in Waltham Forest (East London) and at the University of East London. Since qualification in 2017 I have seen clients in my private practice.

I gained my certificate in CBT-E (cognitive behaviour therapy for eating disorders) from CREDO (which is the eating disorder research centre at the University of Oxford) and more information is provided on the relevant page of this website.

I gained my coaching certificate from the Health Coaches Academy via completion of ‘pillar 1’ of the Health Coaching Diploma ‘Foundations of Health Coaching’. This qualification is accredited by the Personalised Care Institute. More information about coaching is available on the relevant page of this website.

My professional commitment

I found my way into the world of counselling when I became a client of a person-centred counsellor. I experienced how deeply counselling can help address limitations in our life, and improve our relationships both with ourselves and others. I am committed to providing counselling for others, working in an empathic and non-judgmental way.

I continually develop my skills and knowledge via workshops and other training opportunities. These have included group work; pre-therapy in psychiatric settings; fantasies and trauma; working with sight-loss; play therapy; embodied therapy; working with people withdrawing from prescribed psychiatric medication; person centred approaches to trauma and working creatively with trauma.

In addition to my counselling experience I have volunteered in a variety of roles including having been a be-friender of a child with Asperger’s; visiting mental health wards; drug addiction drop-in centre; and classroom assistant (functional skills).

Way of working

Counselling and CBT-E sessions are in person and the counselling room is well ventilated for face to face work. I can provide online sessions for coaching only.

Katherine Smith – Registered Member MBACP, Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling