About Me:

Kirsty is an Integrative Therapeutic Counsellor at the Cherry Tree Centre in Henley on Thames. She offers face to face counselling to adults and young people from the age of 16 and above.

Life can be difficult at times and it can sometimes feel quite overwhelming. We may not always know why we feel the way we do and our feelings and thoughts may worry us and prevent us from living life to the full. We may find it difficult to talk about how we feel with those around us or feel that we are alone and that no-one really understands us. That’s when talking therapy can really help. By exploring our thoughts, feelings and fears in a safe, supportive and confidential space that is free from judgment, we can start to process them healthily. In doing so we can gain insight into how and why we act and think as we do and a better understanding of both ourselves and of those around us. This can allow us to store difficult experiences in a way in which they impact us less in the future and to break unhelpful and often unconscious patterns that might be working against us.

Kirsty has a very warm, empathic and supportive counselling style. First and foremost, she is a relational therapist which means that she places the client-counsellor relationship at the centre of the therapeutic work. Her integrative approach to therapy allows her to combine aspects of person-centred counselling which looks at how things affect us in the present with psychodynamic counselling which involves making links with past events and relationships. Counselling is confidential and collaborative, and clients always have full autonomy over the direction and duration of their therapeutic journey. Kirsty is experienced in working with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Social anxiety
• Panic disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Bereavement
• Trauma
• Stress
• School and exam stress
• Relationships
• Attachment issues
• Low self-esteem
• Bullying
• Self-harm
• Suicidal ideation

Alongside private practice Kirsty works for a mental health charity that supports young people in Reading. She also has experience working with young people in a number of educational settings locally. Before training as a Counsellor she worked in Corporate Communications for 10 years at The Football Association and for 5 years at British Airways. She lives locally with her husband and two sons.

Kirsty is a registered member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP, member number 00979665) and adheres to their Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Kirsty holds the following qualifications:

• Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – From the Counselling and Psychotherapy Training Academy (CPTA), awarded by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Award Body (CPCAB)
• Certificate of Proficiency awarded from the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists)
• Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies – CPTA awarded by CPCAB
• Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills – CPTA awarded by CPCAB
• 2:1 BA (hons) French – The University of Leeds.
• Currently working towards CPCAB L5 Accredited Diploma in Counselling Young People aged 11 plus.