Kathryn Handley, BACP

Kathryn Handley is a counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family conflict and depression. She also supports those coping with life changes and midlife concerns. Kathryn works with adults and young people aged 16 and over. She uses a warm, interactive style to make it easier to talk about difficult feelings.

She draws on cognitive-behavioural techniques alongside person-centred counselling and attachment-informed ideas. In practice that means Kathryn listens first, then helps people notice thought patterns, test them, and try small changes. Conversations are collaborative and tailored to the person’s situation and goals.

Her experience includes six years working in the NHS and in private practice in the United Kingdom. That background informs how she plans sessions and supports people through relationship issues, family problems, breakup and separation, and challenges linked to money or mood. She pays attention to shame, guilt, abandonment concerns and problems caused by infidelity or commitment doubts.

Sessions also cover self-harm, self-love, narcissism-related difficulties, seasonal affective disorder and other mood concerns. Kathryn aims to create a respectful space where thoughts and feelings can be named without judgment. She helps people set practical steps they can try between sessions.

Beginning work focusses on what the person wants to change and what feels manageable right now. Kathryn adapts the pace and tools to each person, so the work fits with everyday life and long-term aims.

How Kathryn’s approaches translate to online work

Kathryn uses cognitive-behavioural techniques and person-centred counselling alongside attachment-informed ways of understanding relationships. Cognitive-behavioural techniques focus on noticing unhelpful thoughts and testing them with small experiments, which can help with anxiety, low mood and stress. Person-centred counselling emphasises being heard and understood, offering a non-judgemental space to talk through what matters most. Attachment-informed ideas look at patterns in close relationships and how they affect feelings and behaviour, useful when dealing with abandonment, commitment or trust issues.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Kathryn works collaboratively to agree what to try first, checks in about what helps, and adjusts the plan as goals evolve. This means the work stays relevant and manageable for each person.

If you are thinking about online therapy, confirm the session formats available before booking. Many people find online work easier to fit around daily commitments and appointments. It can make shorter check-ins simpler, reduce travel time, and allow sessions during a break from work or between other responsibilities. Discussing practical arrangements with Kathryn helps ensure sessions fit into everyday life and therapeutic goals.