counselling
My individual counselling practice is built on the foundations of somatic release and Compassionate Inquiry - an approach designed by Dr. Gabor Maté. Together, we start from the premise that the mind and body are connected, using daily stressors, emotional triggers, and physical sensations as signposts to guide our work.
Address deeply rooted coping mechanisms
Explore the roots of mental, physical or emotional pain
Understand and overcome triggers
Let go of limiting stories, beliefs and behaviour patterns
Meet and release suppressed emotions
Trauma-informed counselling may be for you if you wish to …
Purpose.
Become aware of unconscious patterns and responses
Cultivate self-awareness and self-compassion
Develop conscious clarity and choice
Connect with your inner child
Build safety, comfort and connection to your body
Approach.
Whatever brings you, you are welcome here.
My approach is trauma informed; built on the foundations of somatic and emotional release, through a gentle and compassionate lens, guided by the pace you decide.
With a holistic approach, we start from the premise that body and mind are connected and both require our radical listening, attention and awareness.
We gently uncover the deepest rooted causes of pain - using stressors, triggers and challenges as the sign-posts - to lead us through healing to our selves. Meeting truthfully our beliefs, trauma and suppressed emotions, we are able to release the hold they have over us; and new freedom, expansion and ways of being emerge.
Somatic
Our body is the vessel for all of our life experiences; pre-cognitive to present. We maintain a physical memory that also speaks to us: gut feelings, intuition, tension. We will listen to and explore this wisdom and knowledge.
emotional
Our underlying feelings reveal our deepest held beliefs about ourselves and our World. In unpacking our emotions, we can begin to process them and the role they play in our lives.
gentle & compassionate
Seeing ourselves truthfully requires vulnerability. This is something we approach at your pace, with care and compassion for everything you have gone through to be at this moment.
Process.
Following a short discovery call (which you can book here), we will both have the opportunity to reflect if we are a good fit to work together. There is no obligation following the call, so please enter lightly knowing you have time to make a decision.
If we proceed, you will receive a link to book a full length session, which typically lasts 50-60 mins.
We will start with 3 sessions, but the total number and cadence isopen. It may be that you need time to integrate after a just a few sessions, or you might prefer having a regular time to meet; we will find what works for you.
As a guide, my clients generally find it most beneficial to meet approximately 6+ times over approximately 3+ months. And rather than being indefinitely on-going, our intention is for the working relationship to find a natural close.
The standard rate for our time together is €150 per hour. If this rate is currently a barrier for you, please get in touch so we can explore options together.
More about Compassionate Inquiry
When we experience chronic stress, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion, it is easy to focus solely on managing the immediate symptoms. However, focusing only on the symptom rarely leads to sustainable change.
Developed by Dr. Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur, Compassionate Inquiry is a somatic, inquiry-based framework designed to look beneath the surface of our immediate reactions.
Our implicit memories, childhood conditioning, and early protective strategies shape how we respond to the world today. What we often label as "self-sabotage," "overthinking," or "emotional reactivity" usually began as a logical coping mechanism - a way our system learned to adapt and stay safe.
As a Compassionate Inquiry-informed practitioner, I bring these principles into our sessions to help you:
Uncover implicit beliefs: Recognise the subtle, unconscious stories ("I am not enough," "I must carry this alone") that drive your daily choices and stress responses.
Listen to somatic wisdom: Pay attention to bodily cues—tension, gut feelings, or changes in breath—that reveal where unexpressed emotion is stored.
Shift from reaction to choice: Move away from automatic self-protection and toward a compassionate, grounded relationship with yourself.
Rather than asking "What is wrong with me?", this approach asks "What happened to me, and how did my system learn to adapt?”.
Frequently asked questions
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Mental and emotional states are deeply connected to the body. To address what is happening beneath the surface, we combine talk-based reflection with somatic awareness—noticing physical sensations, breath, and stored tension.
My approach is informed by Compassionate Inquiry (CI), the modality developed by Dr. Gabor Maté, alongside somatic release techniques. By bringing compassionate attention to your nervous system's responses, we gently uncover the root causes of pain rather than simply managing surface symptoms.
If you would like to explore the philosophy behind this work, I often recommend Dr. Gabor Maté’s book When the Body Says No or Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score.
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That’s entirely up to you. We will discuss what you are ready to talk about and what you are comfortable to talk about. Our mental and emotional states are holistic, so you can anticipate that the conversation at some point may become very wide.
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Yes. The priority is meeting; if its easier to do this online, we can definitely make that happen (just select the online option when booking).
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You can first book a chemistry call/initial consultation (online) appointment. This will give us a chance to decide whether we can work together and if we should continue.
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Yes.
I recommend we find a time when you can be fully present and that's usually alone. However, the priority is that you can attend; if that means you need to bring your baby, please do.
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I have extensive experience in trauma informed support across multiple specialities, including;
Compassionate Inquiry (a modality designed and instructed by Dr Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur);
Psychedelic care;
Hostile and Conflict environments;
Mental health (with Postpartum Support International); and
Somatic modalities as a qualified yoga and meditation instructor.
As I come from outside the psychotherapy field, my services do not include diagnosis or treatment of psychological conditions.
You are welcome to read more about my background here.
Testimonials
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“I don’t know what I was expecting, but I got exactly what I needed. Kate creates a very safe environment, is an exceptional listener and asks gentle but piercing questions.”
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“In our very first session, I had a break-through moment on a topic that has been troubling me for a long time.”
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“Having been in-and-out of therapy for more than 10 years, I wasn’t expecting to find something especially new in Kate’s approach. But the way we came at my issues gave me strong new insights.”