Katie Smith

Helping you heal, grow and awaken to new possibilities.

I currently offer online and telephone counselling for adults 16+ across the UK.

Taking the first step towards counselling can feel overwhelming. You may have spent a long time trying to cope on your own, putting others first, or convincing yourself that you should be able to manage. Reaching out for support can feel like a big thing, and I want to make that first step feel as comfortable as possible.

I offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can come exactly as you are.

I support adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, domestic abuse, low self-worth, life changes, chronic pain and health challenges.

I have a passion for supporting people who feel unseen or misunderstood, including those living with invisible illnesses or ongoing health conditions. Living with pain or changes to your health can affect so much more than your physical body. It can impact your confidence, identity, relationships and how you see yourself.

My aim is to help you understand your experiences, reconnect with yourself and explore a way forward that feels right for you.

I currently offer flexible online and telephone appointments, allowing you to access counselling from a space where you feel comfortable.

I also offer a free initial chat before starting counselling. This gives us the opportunity to talk about what has brought you here, answer any questions, and see whether we feel we are the right fit to work together.

Finding the right counsellor matters. This is your space, and you deserve to feel safe, understood and comfortable.

Hello, I’m Katie, founder of Awaken Counselling and Therapy.

I am a qualified person-centred counsellor and psychotherapist, offering online and telephone counselling for adults nationwide across the UK.

I believe that behind every person is a story, and sometimes the experiences we have lived through can leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves, overwhelmed, anxious or unsure of who we are.

Counselling offers a space to slow things down, make sense of what you have been through and begin to reconnect with yourself.

My own experiences have shaped the empathy and understanding I bring to my work. I know how powerful it can be to have a space where you can be honest, where you don’t have to minimise your feelings or explain why something has affected you.

I have a particular interest in trauma, the nervous system, chronic pain and health challenges. I am passionate about helping people understand why they feel the way they do and how their experiences can shape their thoughts, emotions and responses.

Living with chronic pain or health difficulties can bring many emotions that are often difficult to talk about: frustration, grief, anger, fear, isolation and feeling like you have lost parts of yourself.

You may find yourself grieving the life you expected to have, struggling with changes you didn’t choose, or feeling exhausted from constantly pushing through.

You are not just your experiences, your diagnosis or the things that have happened to you.

My approach is person-centred, which means I believe you are the expert in your own life. I will not judge you, rush you or tell you who you should be. Instead, we work together to understand your story, your experiences and what you need.

At Awaken Counselling and Therapy, my aim is to provide a space where you feel heard, understood and supported as you begin your own journey of healing, growth and awakening.

At Awaken Counselling and Therapy, I believe counselling is about creating a space where you can truly be yourself.

You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. You do not need the “right” words or a perfectly organised story. You simply need a place where you can begin.

Many people come to counselling feeling overwhelmed, stuck, exhausted or disconnected from themselves. They may have spent years coping, surviving or putting their own needs aside.

Together, we can explore what is happening for you and begin to understand the experiences that have shaped you.

I work from a person-centred approach, which means our sessions are guided by you. I believe you are the expert in your own life, and my role is to walk alongside you with empathy, compassion and understanding.

I support people experiencing:

• Trauma and difficult life experiences

• Domestic abuse

• Anxiety and feeling overwhelmed

• Depression and low mood

• Grief and loss

• Low self-esteem and confidence

• Chronic pain and health challenges

• Invisible illness and the emotional impact of living with symptoms

• Life changes and feeling lost or stuck

I have an interest in supporting people who feel misunderstood or who have spent a long time feeling that they have to hide what they are going through.

Living with pain, trauma, illness or difficult experiences can affect how we see ourselves and the world around us. It can change our confidence, our relationships and our hopes for the future.

Counselling can help you explore these experiences, understand yourself with more compassion and begin to reconnect with who you are.

You are more than what has happened to you.

You are more than your struggles.

Together, we can explore your story, support your healing and help you awaken to new possibilities.

Choosing a counsellor is a personal decision, and finding someone you feel comfortable with is incredibly important.

Before starting counselling, I offer a free initial chat. This gives us the chance to meet, talk about what has brought you to counselling, and explore what support you are looking for.

It is also an opportunity for you to see whether you feel comfortable with me and whether we feel like the right fit to work together.

Your first session is not about having to share everything at once. You are in control of what you talk about, and we will go at a pace that feels right for you.

We can explore what has been happening, what you would like support with, and what you hope counselling can offer you.

Whether you are struggling with trauma, anxiety, grief, chronic pain, health changes or simply feeling that life has become too much, you are welcome here.

Sometimes the first step towards change is simply having a space where you feel heard.

This is where your journey begins.