Katie Payne

I currently have some availability - please contact me for further detail.

I am trained in Integrative Counselling. This means that I am interested in you as a whole person – in your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual life. It also means that I might use different modalities depending on who I am working with and what they need. My practice reflects my values, and I believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to be fully seen, heard and understood. I am primarily 'person-centred' which means I regard my client as the expert in the room. Together, we seek to gain greater understanding of your difficulties and experiences.

I work from a grounded, warm, heart-centred place so that you feel safe to explore whatever you wish to bring to therapy. I am fascinated by Poly Vagal Theory and will often bring your nervous system in to the conversation. I might invite you to notice bodily responses in relation to what we talk about. I am interested in how your history shapes your present – gaining understanding of how the past shapes our lives can help us to be kinder to ourselves, and gives the opportunity to look at things differently. I work holistically and intuitively alongside theoretical understanding and, if you would like, I can offer strategies to manage your wellbeing on a practical and physical level.

I am also interested in the 'big questions' of life and how these can sometimes impact how we feel about ourselves and our lives. I believe the ability to find meaning is central to living a life of purpose and joy. 

The counselling relationship is unlike any other. It is a space and time dedicated to you to explore experiences, thoughts and feelings in a completely non-judgemental, warm, and connected place. From this place it is possible to find meaning in the mysteries and difficulties that life presents.

It is, like all relationships, a conversation.

Each session is 50 minutes long and on a weekly basis, online (£50) or in person (£60).

I work with people long or short term depending on what you need and we can review at regular intervals.

All sessions require payment via bank transfer 24 hours in advance of our session. Please contact me if this is a problem for any reason. 

If you decide you would like to work with me, we can arrange to have an initial chat over the phone or online over Google Meet for up to 20 minutes free of charge to see if we feel like we might work well together.

Following that, if we decide we would like to work together we can arrange an introductory session where you can finalise your decision. This would be at the standard rate. I am also happy to recommend other therapists to you if necessary.

I am experienced with working with a wide range of challenges and life experiences. I acknowledge difference and diversity of all kinds and welcome any person to seek counselling with me. If there is anything you wish to work on which I do not feel I am best placed to support you with, I will endeavour to refer you to someone who is. It is of paramount importance to me that you receive the most helpful experience of therapy and that your needs are met.

What you tell me is held in confidence unless I understand from what you say that you or somebody else is at risk of serious harm. If I decide that it is necessary to share information with another professional, I will always, where possible, consult with you first.

I work online and also from The Practice Rooms in Cotham Hill and Stokes Croft. If you require accessible space please let me know as there is a room at the Cotham Hill practice which is flat access.

Before our first session, I will ask you to complete an Initial Assessment Form which also confirms that you have read and understood my Terms and Conditions.  I will send you this information to review before our phone consultation so that you have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about it.