Counsellor profile
Kate Oliver-Smith, NCPS
Psychotherapeutic counsellor - anxiety and relationships
See online counselling options- CBT techniques
- Person-centred work
- Psychodynamic focus
About Kate
Counsellor Kate Oliver-Smith is a psychotherapeutic counsellor and a member of the NCPS with 13 years of experience. She works in the United Kingdom and helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship matters, grief, low self-esteem and other life difficulties.
She began her career in human resources. There she supported individuals and groups with mediation, coaching and one-to-one counselling. That workplace work showed her she wanted to focus on therapeutic practice and she moved into clinical training.
Kate trained across a number of approaches, including psychodynamic work, cognitive behavioural methods and person-centred practice. She combines those approaches with her HR experience to help people tackle practical problems and personal patterns that get in the way of everyday life.
Sessions are conversational and direct. She listens for recurring themes and helps people set realistic, short-term goals while also looking at longer standing issues. Where useful she draws on techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy to help with thoughts and behaviours, and on psychodynamic ideas to look at repeated patterns.
People contact her about anxiety, depression, addiction and trauma-related concerns. She also works with issues connected to parenting, sleep, career and relationship difficulties. International clients may be accepted, and sessions are carried out in English.
Background and approach: Kate aims to be straightforward and down to earth in sessions. She describes her manner as approachable and non-judgemental. The work is practical and reflective - helping people make small changes now and understand patterns that have built up over time. To begin she uses an initial assessment to agree goals and the best mix of approaches for each person.
Therapeutic approaches and online counselling
Kate often draws on client-centred work, cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic ideas in her sessions. Client-centred work means the therapist listens carefully and follows what the person brings, helping them to clarify what matters most. Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and is useful for anxiety, low mood and unhelpful habits. Psychodynamic work looks at repeated patterns and past influences to understand why problems recur. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kate will discuss goals and preferences and agree together which methods to use. This is a collaborative process and can change as progress is made or circumstances shift. For practical matters, confirm which session formats she currently offers before booking, as formats were not specified in the biography. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, avoid travel time and use shorter check-ins when needed. It can also allow people to join from different locations if that helps maintain continuity of care. Registered or accredited professionals, including therapists, often use a mix of methods to suit what each person needs.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, relationship difficulties and related concerns such as sleep and self-esteem.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her sessions are conversational and down to earth. She uses practical strategies alongside reflective work to tackle patterns and immediate problems.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 13 years of experience, including work in human resources and over a decade in therapeutic practice.
Which professional body is she registered with?
She is registered with the NCPS as stated in her profile.
Can sessions be held in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the UK?
She accepts international clients according to the details provided.
What formats are available for sessions?
Please confirm current session options before booking as formats were not specified in the biography.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.