Katie Clark

About Katie

 

I am a qualified Counsellor based in Winchester, Hampshire.  I have many years of experience of Counselling, working mainly with young people aged 13-25 and with parents of adolescents.  A client once told me that she came to me feeling like a crumpled piece of paper and the work we did together helped to smooth that paper out.

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My aim is to hold a safe space for my clients, to offer kindness and empathy without judgement.  To do this I use my training and experience to listen and help you navigate your way through whatever difficulties life is throwing at you.   There is enormous power in being listened to, being seen and being heard.  Sometimes our work may just involve talking and listening.  At other times we may draw on more creative processes, working with art, sand tray work, big empathy drawing or play.  I aim to use my skills and experience to support you using whatever tools you find helpful. 

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​I have worked in all the Secondary schools in Winchester, at Peter Symonds College, Andover College and at the University of Winchester.  I find young people fascinating, I like them and I am good at building relationships with them.   

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It may be that you have a specific issue that you want to work through or it may be that you cannot work out what is troubling you. Perhaps your mind feels too noisy, too busy or you feel like you are walking through treacle – I can offer you a safe space to offload, to explore your emotions and ultimately to heal, at least in some way.  It may be that you are overwhelmed by grief but need to get on with your day-to-day life.  It may be that you are feeling anxious or depressed or it may be that you are having trouble working out exactly who you are and where you fit.  Or it may be something entirely different.  I can provide space to explore all these things and I can hold you through this process. ​​​

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I am a Humanistic Counsellor - which to me means that my counselling is very much about building a relationship with my client and working together to understand what is problematic for you and how to work through that to a safer, calmer, happier space.  I am not an expert on you - you are.  But I have training and experience that enables me to support you with whatever difficulties you are living with.   I cannot fix you, but I can listen and help you navigate your way to a better place in your life.

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I have experience of working with neurodiverse clients and am very comfortable with this client group – whether they have a specific diagnosis or not.

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Having worked in pastoral and safeguarding roles in different settings I have experience of working with parents of adolescents.   I am interested in working with parents to help forge healthy emotional relationships with their children whilst also looking after their own needs.

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I also have experience of counselling adults and in particular I am interested in trauma and attachment and how this can manifest itself through behaviour and mental health issues.  

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In addition to this, I am interested in working with people experiencing grief.

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I am trained in the theory called Transactional Analysis and this provides the scaffolding for all of my work.   It informs the thinking and planning I do for clients both in and out of the counselling room.   I am also trained in Trauma Informed Practice and I have a particular interest in working with clients who have experienced childhood trauma and how this impacts them throughout their lives – both during adolescence and as adults.  

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I offer a free 15 minute telephone consultation.  This gives me a sense of what you are looking for in counselling and you a sense of who I am and how I work.  So please do contact me and we can arrange this.