Katarina Guillen-Spencer

I offer online therapy sessions flexibly, please reach out to inquire about your scheduling needs my main hours are as follows: 

Mondays: 8:00-11:00

Tuesdays: 8:00-11:00

Wednesdays: 8:00-11:00, 11:00-18:00

Thursdays: 8:00-11:00

Fridays: 8:00 - 17:00

You are able to contact me to book or book independently online. See more of my availability here: https://cip.janeapp.co.uk/#staff_member/1

I would describe myself as a relational and integrative therapist that focuses on promoting curiosity and flexibility in trying new methods of change. My approach tends to be direct, highly collaborative with you, and focused on how we can create meaningful change for you.

My goal is to guide a process of self-exploration and experimentation with ways of thinking, communicating, emotional processing, and taking action that are informed by the difference between where you are now and where you’d like to be. At all times, my therapeutic approach is values and strengths based, focused on practicing new strategies, and promoting your own self-knowledge and autonomy in the change process.

Our lived experiences shape us into who we are today and impact the way we interact with ourselves and within our relationships. I believe understanding our past, as well as how it is influencing our present, can support desired change and growth. I value showing up in session with openness, authenticity, and grounded in the reality of human experience. I am deeply committed to creating a supportive, compassionate, and highly collaborative environment in which you feel comfortable to experiment with new ways of being.

Whether you’re experiencing communication or relationship difficulties, anxiety, self-criticism, lack of intimacy and connection, stress related to parenting or family dynamics, or difficulties with emotional insight or expression – I’d like to support you in identifying and taking action towards what you need. I provide support for parents to respond to their kids’ behavioural or emotional challenges as well as relational strain related to parenting, for partners to improve their communication and connection or heal from strain and rupture, for families to collaborate, and for adults and teens that are self-critical, anxious, burned out, or struggling with their self-esteem or self-worth.

I provide support for parents and caregivers, disconnected couples struggling with communication, and individuals struggling with self-criticism, anxiety, and burnout.

My aim is to help you find workable solutions to challenges in your life, and to develop new ways of relating to yourself and others. My approach is grounded in connecting with and understanding why the strategies you are currently using are there and what their purpose and function is. I focus on understanding the self-protective nature or intention of the existing approaches you use, and promoting self-compassionate understanding of their origins. Building on your existing strengths and knowledge of yourself throughout this process, we can then shift to learning new strategies aimed at getting you closer to where you’d like to be and living a life more aligned with your values and needs.

My main priority is being helpful to you, in the unique way that you need support. Being integrative to me means that I prioritize showing up as responsive, flexible, and creative in pulling from a variety of therapeutic styles and skills to build a plan specific to you and the goals and needs you have. I view the therapeutic process as being a unique co-constructed artistic and compassionate process, grounded in evidence based-practice.

My areas of focus are: 

Individuals (Youth and Adult): Self-criticism, Burnout, and Stress, Self-esteem, Self-worth, and Self-compassion, Anxiety and Depression, Grief and Loss, Boundary Setting and Assertive Communication

Parents, Caregivers, Families: Parenting/Caregiving, Co-parenting, relational therapy for parents/caregivers, Perinatal - Maternal, Paternal, and Caregiver support, Behavioural, School, and Peer Issues, Family Conflict

Couples and Relational: Relationship Issues and Communication, Infidelity, Separation, and Divorce, Sex and Intimacy, Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM), Open relationships, Polyamory, Reconciliation and strengthening of connection

Within the first session we will outline what brings you to therapy and what your goals are. We will explore any background or relevant context needed to understand how you find yourself where are are now and identifying why it matters to you to reach the goal that you've set. Our aim in the first session will be to ensure we are on the same page in terms of what we are working to achieve, and we will map out our plan for therapy involvement together. The rate for the first session is the same, I will send you a voluntary information gathering form to fill out prior to offer me a chance to begin thinking about our work before our first session. You are able to add add as much or as little to this form as you would like.