Kate Oliver-Smith , NCPS

Kate Oliver-Smith is a psychotherapeutic counsellor with a practical, goal-oriented approach rooted in years of experience helping people move forward. She began her career in Human Resources, supporting individuals and teams through mediation, coaching and counselling, and discovered an aptitude and genuine satisfaction in helping others resolve personal and workplace difficulties. She later trained in a range of therapeutic methods, including Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Person-Centred Therapy, and holds NCPS, a recognised professional counselling credential.

Bringing together counselling skills, HR experience and an empathic, non-judgemental stance, she offers tailored support that reflects each person’s priorities and circumstances. Her work tends to be warm, down to earth and approachable, aimed at helping clients set realistic goals and develop practical tools to reach them. Kate commonly supports people with anxiety, depression, addictions, phobias, abuse, eating issues, emotional difficulties, self-esteem and confidence, relationship problems, relaxation and stress.

Clients can expect a collaborative process in which interventions are chosen to fit individual needs rather than applied in a one-size-fits-all way. Kate’s combination of therapeutic training and workplace experience informs a flexible style that prioritises clarity, empathy and achievable progress.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Kate uses Client-Centred Therapy to create a supportive, non-judgemental space where the client’s own goals and experiences guide the pace and direction of work. This approach is helpful for building self-awareness, confidence and trust in the therapeutic relationship.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is offered to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. CBT often suits people managing anxiety, low mood, stress or specific patterns that interfere with daily life, offering practical strategies and skills for coping.

Psychodynamic Therapy is also part of Kate’s toolkit, exploring how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings and relationships. This approach can help people gain insight into recurring difficulties and develop new ways of relating to themselves and others.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative part of the process - Kate works with clients to identify which methods best match their needs, goals and preferences, and adapts her style as therapy progresses. Online sessions offer flexibility in how people access support: video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to connect from different locations. These options help maintain continuity of care while accommodating individual schedules and needs.