Counsellor profile
Kathryn Handley, BACP
Counsellor - stress and relationships
See online counselling options- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Attachment focus
About Kathryn
Kathryn Handley is a counsellor and a member of the BACP with six years' experience. She works with adults and young people aged 16 and over. Her main areas include stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, depression and coping with life changes.
She has worked in both the NHS and private practice. That background means she is used to a range of worries from everyday stress to more intense mood problems. She also offers help with issues such as abandonment, attachment, commitment problems, divorce and separation, and family problems.
Her practice draws on cognitive-behavioural techniques alongside person-centred counselling and ideas from attachment theory. In sessions she talks through thoughts and feelings and helps people notice patterns that affect their mood and relationships. Techniques may include looking at unhelpful thinking, practising alternative responses, and focusing on how past relationships shape present ones.
Sessions are conversational and interactive. Kathryn adapts the pace and focus to what each person needs at the time. She aims to be respectful and sensitive while working alongside clients to identify practical steps and coping strategies.
People who contact her are usually asked about their immediate concerns and what they hope to change. The first steps include a short matching questionnaire before arranging a session. This helps people and Kathryn decide what to focus on next.
Therapeutic approaches and remote counselling
Her work combines cognitive-behavioural techniques and person-centred counselling, with attention to attachment-informed ideas. Cognitive-behavioural techniques help people spot unhelpful thoughts and test alternative ways of thinking and behaving. Person-centred counselling focuses on listening and helping people find their own solutions. Attachment-informed ideas look at how early relationship patterns can shape current trust and closeness in relationships.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Kathryn will discuss options with each person and agree what to try first. That way the approach is adjusted over time based on needs, goals and practical preferences, and decisions are made together.
Confirm current session options before booking as formats are not listed here. Many people find remote counselling easier to fit around work, study and family life. It can make shorter check-ins simpler and reduce travel time. Some formats work better when camera use is limited or when a quick phone call is needed, so discuss what suits your day-to-day circumstances when you book.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, depression and coping with life changes. She also addresses topics like abandonment, attachment, infidelity and midlife concerns.
What is her therapeutic approach and style?
Her style is interactive and conversational. She uses cognitive-behavioural techniques, person-centred counselling and attachment-informed ideas to help people notice patterns and try different responses.
How much experience does she have?
She has six years' experience working with young people aged 16+ and adults in both the NHS and private practice.
Which professional body is she a member of and where is she based?
She is a member of the BACP and practices in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location. Sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Use the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
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.