Katie Watson

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

Hello. I'm Katie. Thank you for stopping by.

I am committed to creating a therapeutic space for us that is safe, non-judgemental, empowering and collaborative, where we can actively work towards the change and growth you want to see, and where I walk beside you on your journey as an equal.

As a psychotherapist, I am interested in the stories we tell ourselves, especially those stories that seem to replay at times of stress, loss or great change in our lives, like “I’ll never be good enough” or “this was always going to happen to me”.

At some point in our history, these stories may have enabled us to survive, and they can be incredibly nuanced and multi-layered. These stories can determine how we look out into the world, make sense of it and how we engage with other people. Eventually these stories may need rewriting, re-evaluating or shedding completely so that we can move forward.

Together we will work to understand your story and how it has lead you here. In doing so, this makes room for a new story to be told and a new self to emerge.

A little bit more me

Aside from my psychotherapy practice, I have worked in the charitable sector with vulnerable and disadvantaged adults for nearly a decade and I am also a qualified teacher. In 2017, I was awarded a scholarship to train as a trauma-informed writing guide for Write Your Self, a global writing movement aimed at supporting people to reclaim their stories after experiencing trauma. I am the first and only guide based in the UK to be trained in the methodology. 

I am also a published writer and deliver regular classes on using creative writing for therapeutic purposes. I volunteer as a therapist for the LGBT Foundation and serve on the board of trustees for Manchester Rape Crisis.

I use Transactional Analysis (TA) as my main way of working, a humanistic and versatile form of therapy, along with other therapeutic tools and approaches, such as:

• therapeutic writing/creative writing
  
• simple trauma-sensitive yoga practises
• polyvagal exercises to support with feelings of safety and connection. 

I offer a free initial session where we will get to know each other a little more and chat about the reasons why you’ve come to therapy. If you don't know exactly, that's absolutely ok, please don't let this stop you from reaching out. Often, these naturally emerge as we’re going along.

I may ask you some questions about your background just to get a sense of what it is like to be you, and you are welcome to ask me anything about how the process works. We can explore any specific goals you may have in mind for therapy.

I can work with a broad range of issues, and I have a particular interest and experience in these areas:

• trauma
  
• anxiety/panic
• shame
  
• depression
  
• self-criticism
  
• low self-esteem
  
• codependency
  
• perfectionism
  
• discrimination
  
• sexuality
  
• identity
  
• LGBTQ+
  
• creative blocks.