“What counts in life is not the victory, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to conquer, but to fight well.”
- Baron Pierre de Coubertin,
father of the modern Olympic Games
I am Kate Wolfsohn, an experienced psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist
I work face to face in Whitstable, Kent and anywhere by online video and telephone, with adults from the age of 18 and couples.
Maybe you are here because you are considering entering therapy. It may be feeling daunting to even think about taking this step. That is understandable - there is a lot at stake for you.
You might have an idea of why you would like therapy: you may be trying to manage difficult feelings you can’t seem to overcome or avoid, or perhaps life has thrown something at you that seems overwhelming and you want a place to talk that is private, outside your circle and just yours, or where you won’t simply be told what others think you want to hear. Or maybe you just feel something’s not right and you would like a safe, warm space to explore what that might mean.
What to expect
Therapy is a special relationship where you can talk openly about whatever is troubling you in the confidence that you will be heard, understood and thought about, and what you share will be treated with interest and without judgment. I relate to my clients openly and with warmth. Finding the right therapist matters because the therapy is rooted and blossoms within the relationship that grows between us.
In psychodynamic therapy we work together to seek the wellspring of your distress, exploring your memories and longings as well as what is happening right now and between us. Where we go is up to you. Patterns may emerge and links between past and present relationships and experiences. We can look at how you habitually manage uncomfortable feelings and whether this serves you in the best possible way.
My experience
I have very broad experience and have worked privately, in the charitable sector and in the NHS, both in brief time-limited counselling for 8 years and with outpatients in a secondary care psychiatric hospital setting. Some of the sources of distress I have worked with include:
- Bereavement, grief and loss - I worked for 7 years with Grief Encounter supporting men and women who had lost partners, parents or children, including through suicide;
- Relationship issues and breakdown - I work with individuals and couples and am certified by Tavistock Relationships in Couples Therapy for Depression;
- Trauma and its after-effects - I have worked with victims of trafficking and domestic, sexual and racial abuse and violence;
- Depression and low mood - loss of enjoyment of life, low self-esteem, anger, harsh self-criticism and loneliness;
- Anxiety - although anxiety and worry are universal and are natural and appropriate responses to life challenges, the state of becoming excessively or continuously anxious, with all its physical embodiments, can be debilitating;
- Coping with uncertainty and worry about the future;
- Low self-confidence;
- Workplace issues such as performance, workaholism and burnout;
- Addiction and other kinds of self-harm;
- Infertility, preparation for having children or adoption, and adjustment to parenthood; becoming a parent is one of the biggest changes in life and seeking help to adjust is natural;
- Family dynamics including sibling relationships, with a special interest in twins;
- Issues arising out of celebrity or being in the public eye;
My qualifications
I hold a Masters degree in Adult Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy from Birkbeck College, University of London, and am certified by Tavistock Relationships in Couples Therapy for Depression.
I am a registered and accredited member of the British Assocation of Counselling and Psychotherapy and abide by their code of ethics.
I am registered with the ICO as a data controller and keep your data secure and use it only for the purposes of your therapy.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change.”
Carl Rogers
What's next?
When you contact me, I will offer a brief telephone discussion without charge and then suggest an initial session, that is paid for, for us to meet and see if therapy with me is the right place, after which there is no obligation to continue if it doesn’t feel right.
We can identify a goal for working in a time-limited way (for which I recommend at least 12 sessions) or we can work in a broader, open-ended way. Although you can end therapy at any time, the ending is a part of your therapy and is therefore ideally planned and reflected upon. We will review from time to time and you can initiate this at any time.
Accessibility & Fees
My face to face sessions take place in a peaceful seaside setting up one flight of stairs. A bathroom is available for clients to use. There is a friendly resident cat. Online and telephone sessions are also available.
Fees are generally £60 per session, invoiced at the end of each month for immediate payment. Concessions may be considered for student therapists and others in need. I am approved as a provider by BUPA, AXA, Aviva, Aetna and Vitality. It is your responsibility to check that the cost of your sessions is covered by your insurance provider.
Sessions are 50 minutes and weekly at the same time. I do not accept cancellations. However, I will try to offer an alternative time if need be on an occasional basis or if your situation changes.
Tips for Working Online
Online therapy has proven an effective alternative to meeting in person. It has made therapy more accessible to people who for many reasons can’t see the right therapist in person. For some, it just feels more manageable. Here are some tips for getting the most from your online therapy sessions:
Your Surroundings:
Try to meet from the same location each time, as will I, because routine is important. The most important thing is privacy. When we meet remotely, it’s up to you to provide a setting that is private and where you will not be overheard or interrupted. As if you were in a consulting room, keep some tissues nearby. You could also have a soft drink with you, but don’t eat during your session. Sit in a comfortable chair but don’t recline in bed. Try to position yourself as you would if we were meeting in person.
Buffer:
If possible, leave yourself 10 or 15 minutes of quiet time before and after your sessions. The time before the sessions allows you to put your activities to one side, and for your thoughts to move to therapy. The time after sessions allows you to reflect. This “buffer” time before and after can be seen as part of the process.
Managing the screen and connection:
Position the screen in a way that feels comfortable for you. You don't have to keep your eyes fixed on the screen all the time or at all, if you prefer not to. If technological problems are affecting your audio or video let me know (as will I), so that we find ways to maintain the connection. Put your other devices on silent and close any applications running in the background. Close other tabs so that any messages or emails will not be distracting.
What to wear:
Dress as you would if we were meeting in my consulting room. Even if it doesn't show on screen, your awareness of what you are wearing can affect the therapy.
With thanks to Galit Ferguson.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07957438823 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.