Catherine Thomson, BACP

Catherine Thomson, who prefers to be called Kate, is a fully qualified counsellor and a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom. She has five years of practice working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, supporting people through a wide range of concerns including bereavement and loss, illness or trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, bullying, body image and shifts in family dynamics.

Her foundation is person-centered practice, which places the client at the heart of the process, while she also integrates creative and solution-focused tools tailored to each person. Depending on the individual's needs and preferences, she draws on approaches such as sand tray therapy, Russian dolls, letter writing, vision boards, mindfulness, psychoeducation, narrative work and play therapy to help people explore feelings and find clear steps forward.

Catherine works with couples and individuals both face-to-face and online, and her experience spans charitable organisations and the private sector, including roles with Mind, Action for Carers, BUPA and her own private practice. Before training as a counsellor she ran businesses, worked in corporate settings and served as chairperson of a Parent Teachers Association, experiences that contribute to her practical, non-judgemental and flexible style.

She aims to help clients manage difficult thoughts and behaviours, reduce anxiety, set goals, assert boundaries and reconnect with their values. Catherine offers a supportive, guided process in which clients retain choice and ownership of the changes they wish to make.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Support

Catherine draws on client-centered therapy, attachment-based therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to guide online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on empathy, respect and active listening so that clients feel understood and can explore their own goals; it is often helpful for self-esteem, life transitions and relationship concerns.

Attachment-based therapy looks at patterns formed in close relationships and how early experiences affect current connections; it can be useful for abandonment, attachment issues, intimacy-related difficulties and family dynamics. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts and build practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, stress and behaviours that get in the way of daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Catherine works collaboratively with each person to decide which methods fit best with their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting techniques as the work evolves.

Online sessions by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging offer flexibility for people juggling work, family and other commitments. These options make it easier to access registered professionals from different locations and to continue consistent care while accommodating individual schedules.