Home2024-04-16T11:36:17+01:00

Katherine Herbert is a fully qualified and experienced Counsellor and registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) based in Watford, Hertfordshire.

My training background is as an Integrative Counsellor, this means looking at a person individually and as a whole. Emotional, physical and mental needs are then taken into account.  Techniques and tools are then taken from different Counselling models to tailor an individual approach for them.

Whilst doing my training I worked as a support worker for Victim Support and a Counsellor at The Living Room, Safe Haven and Future Living Hertford. Working with clients with a wide range of issues, some of the issues I have worked with are domestic abuse, addictions, low self worth, anxiety, depression, trust issues ,sexual trauma, PTSD, losses such as divorce and losing child contact.

After completing my training I worked with a charity delivering domestic abuse recovery programs for both women and men, separately. Working on self esteem, coping strategies for anxiety and recognising triggers, using Behavioural Therapy for this and much more. My role as support worker within this charity enabled me to access clients needs and develop with them individual plans and pathways so that they could move forwards with their lives, identifying any issues that were keeping them stuck and working with them to resolve that.

I have always been passionate about empowering others and giving people the space to explore their own feelings and most importantly to have their voices heard and validated.

My training background is as an Integrative Counsellor, this means looking at a person individually and as a whole. Emotional, physical and mental needs are then taken into account.  Techniques and tools are then taken from different Counselling models to tailor an individual approach for them.

Whilst doing my training I worked as a support worker for Victim Support and a Counsellor at The Living Room, Safe Haven and Future Living Hertford. Working with clients with a wide range of issues, some of the issues I have worked with are domestic abuse, addictions, low self worth, anxiety, depression, trust issues ,sexual trauma, PTSD, losses such as divorce and losing child contact.

After completing my training I worked with a charity delivering domestic abuse recovery programs for both women and men, separately. Working on self esteem, coping strategies for anxiety and recognising triggers, using Behavioural Therapy for this and much more. My role as support worker within this charity enabled me to access clients needs and develop with them individual plans and pathways so that they could move forwards with their lives, identifying any issues that were keeping them stuck and working with them to resolve that.

I have always been passionate about empowering others and giving people the space to explore their own feelings and most importantly to have their voices heard and validated.

FAQ

What happens in Couples Therapy?2022-04-03T20:45:30+01:00

For couples therapy to be beneficial it is important that both of you want to have therapy. The first session we will explore what the issues are and how this affects the relationship and other aspects of your lives. We will be working towards both of you being heard and better communication of your feelings. After this first session, I will see the couple individually for one session so that I can get a better insight into you as an individual and where you are coming from. Couples therapy can be time limited or open ended, this can be discussed upon meeting. This session lasts 1 hour.

How long do sessions last?2022-04-03T11:28:00+01:00

Sessions last fifty minutes and ideally are on a weekly basis so that you get the full benefit of therapy and a safe space to explore any feelings that are coming up.

I have never had counseling before, what happens?2022-04-03T11:28:10+01:00

I am client led and so it is for you to decide what it is you want to talk about and what you would like to achieve from our sessions together, we then explore your needs and feelings and work together towards your goal. In our first session we will discuss our expectations of the therapy process and one another.

What should I expect?2022-04-03T20:46:22+01:00

I appreciate it can be daunting to take that first step into counseling and therefore offer all prospective clients a free fifteen minute telephone consultation, so that I can answer any questions you may have and so that you can decide if you wish to work with me and I can assess whether I am able to work with you. In this consultation you identify as little or as much detail and what has brought you to therapy, we will then discuss this and try to understand what it is you are looking for from therapy and how we can work towards your goals.  We would then agree a time and day to meet weekly should you decide you wish to work with me. I practice both short and long term counselling and we will work together to find which best suits you.

How do I end therapy?2022-04-03T11:27:49+01:00

When you feel you would like to end therapy it is important to have a boundaried ending and no sudden abandonment to ensure moving forwards safely. We will use three more sessions to end and we will explore coping strategies and what you have learnt. We will discuss also discuss triggers and how to manage these.

What happens in Couples Therapy?2022-04-03T20:45:30+01:00

For couples therapy to be beneficial it is important that both of you want to have therapy. The first session we will explore what the issues are and how this affects the relationship and other aspects of your lives. We will be working towards both of you being heard and better communication of your feelings. After this first session, I will see the couple individually for one session so that I can get a better insight into you as an individual and where you are coming from. Couples therapy can be time limited or open ended, this can be discussed upon meeting. This session lasts 1 hour.

How long do sessions last?2022-04-03T11:28:00+01:00

Sessions last fifty minutes and ideally are on a weekly basis so that you get the full benefit of therapy and a safe space to explore any feelings that are coming up.

I have never had counseling before, what happens?2022-04-03T11:28:10+01:00

I am client led and so it is for you to decide what it is you want to talk about and what you would like to achieve from our sessions together, we then explore your needs and feelings and work together towards your goal. In our first session we will discuss our expectations of the therapy process and one another.

What should I expect?2022-04-03T20:46:22+01:00

I appreciate it can be daunting to take that first step into counseling and therefore offer all prospective clients a free fifteen minute telephone consultation, so that I can answer any questions you may have and so that you can decide if you wish to work with me and I can assess whether I am able to work with you. In this consultation you identify as little or as much detail and what has brought you to therapy, we will then discuss this and try to understand what it is you are looking for from therapy and how we can work towards your goals.  We would then agree a time and day to meet weekly should you decide you wish to work with me. I practice both short and long term counselling and we will work together to find which best suits you.

How do I end therapy?2022-04-03T11:27:49+01:00

When you feel you would like to end therapy it is important to have a boundaried ending and no sudden abandonment to ensure moving forwards safely. We will use three more sessions to end and we will explore coping strategies and what you have learnt. We will discuss also discuss triggers and how to manage these.

Therapies Offered

Integrative Counselling2022-04-03T11:24:42+01:00

Integrative counselling looks at the whole person, taking into account your mental, physical and emotional needs. Your therapist will use techniques and tools from different modalities to tailor an individual approach for you.

An integrative counsellor aims to build a trusting and non-judgmental relationship that helps you develop self-awareness. When you understand the causes of your concerns or triggers for your behaviour, you can confidently set goals and develop new behaviours to improve your satisfaction with life.

Humanistic Therapy2022-04-03T11:24:51+01:00

This approach focuses on the individual as a whole. It encourages people to think about their feelings and take responsibility for their thoughts and actions. The emphasis is on self-development and achieving your highest potential rather than on problematic behaviour. Gestalt therapy, person-centred therapy, transactional analysis and transpersonal therapy are all humanistic approaches.

Family Therapy2022-04-03T11:25:03+01:00

This type of therapy looks at a family system, and the relationships between people, rather than the individuals. It allows family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, helping them understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs and build on their strengths. It can help with many issues that affect the family unit, helping people make useful changes in their relationships and their lives. See also Systemic therapy.

Emotionally Focused Therapy2022-04-03T11:25:25+01:00

Emotionally focused therapy is an approach for working with couples, families and individuals that helps to create and reinforce secure, resilient relationships. Therapists will help you understand your own and others’ emotions, address any insecurities and conflicts, and learn to interact in a more responsive and emotionally-connected way.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy2022-04-03T11:25:33+01:00

CBT aims to help you change the way you think (cognitive) and what you do (behaviour). Rather than looking at past causes, it focuses on current problems and practical solutions to help you feel better now.

The way we think about situations affects the way we feel and behave. If we view a situation negatively, we may experience negative emotions and feelings which lead us to behave in an unhelpful way. Your therapist will help you identify and challenge any negative thinking so you can deal with situations better and behave in a more positive way

CBT can be helpful for depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, obsessions, eating disorders and managing long term conditions.

Behavioural Therapy2022-04-03T11:25:45+01:00

Behavioural therapies are based on the belief that your unwanted or unhealthy behaviours are a learned response to your past experiences. They focus on current problems and aim to help you learn new, more positive behaviours without having to analyse the past.

Behavioural therapy often works well for compulsive and obsessive behaviours, fears, phobias and addictions.

Transactional Analysis2022-04-03T11:23:30+01:00

Transactional analysis is a comprehensive approach which incorporates aspects of humanistic, cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic therapy. It categorises the human personality into three states – Parent, Adult and Child – which can help you understand how you interact with others.

Therapists also look at how your beliefs and the way you interpret the world around you can create recurrent and problematic patterns of behaviour, and will work with you to help you to change.

Systemic Therapy2022-04-03T11:23:42+01:00

These are therapies which aim to change the transactional pattern of members of a system. Systemic therapy can be used as a generic term for family therapy and marital therapy.

Relationship Therapy2022-04-03T11:23:52+01:00

Relationship therapy encourages the parties in a relationship to recognise repeating patterns of distress and to understand and manage troublesome differences that they are experiencing. The relationship involved may be between members of a family, a couple, or even work colleagues.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy2022-04-03T11:24:03+01:00

The psychodynamic approach is derived from psychoanalysis, but focuses on immediate problems to try to provide a quicker solution. It stresses the importance of the unconscious and past experience in shaping current behaviour. A therapist will aim to build an accepting and trusting relationship, encouraging you to talk about your childhood relationships with your parents and other significant people. It also uses similar techniques to psychotherapy, including free association, interpretation and especially transference, where feelings you experienced in previous significant relationships are projected onto the therapist.

Psychoanalysis2022-04-03T11:24:15+01:00

This is based on the work of Sigmund Freud, who believed that psychological problems are rooted in the unconscious mind. Experiences from a person’s past can influence thoughts, emotions and behaviour in later life. The analyst will encourage you to talk about your experiences and use techniques such as free association or dream analysis to identify repressed feelings or conflicts that are affecting you now. Bringing these to the front of your mind allows any negative feelings to be dealt with.

This can be a lengthy and intensive process and is often used by clients suffering high levels of distress.

Person Centred Therapy2022-04-03T11:24:32+01:00

Person or client-centred therapy is based on the view that everyone has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change, given the right conditions. Rather than being seen as the expert and directing the therapy, the counsellor offers unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence to help you come to terms with any negative feelings and to change and develop in your own way.

Motivational Coaching2022-04-03T11:22:44+01:00

Coaching supports individuals, teams or groups in achieving greater self-awareness, improved self-management skills and increased self-efficacy, so that you can develop your own goals and solutions. It is a collaborative, conversation-based process, which emphasises and builds on your existing and developing strengths. It is often focused on supporting you in making changes, either to how things are at present or to your near and distant future.

Sessions may be quite structured and directional or interactive, and can last up to three hours. Coaching may follow a specific model, but many coaches integrate more than one model, along with elements of therapeutic approaches such as person-centred, solution focused or CBT.

Fees & Availability

Individual counselling face to face, via Google Meets or telephone- £55.00 per session

Concessions are available for counselling students.

Qualifications

  • Diploma in Integrative Therapeutic Counselling
  • Diploma in Couples Counselling & Family Therapy
  • Diploma in Domestic Abuse Recovery
  • Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Diploma in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
  • BACP Certificate of Proficiency
  • Certificate in Counselling Studies
  • Certificate in Mental Health Awareness
  • Certificate in Working With Trauma
  • Certificate In Working With Addictions

Specialist Work

I have specialised in Domestic Abuse Recovery and Trauma and work with client’s so that they are able to process their experiences and feelings surrounding this. Common issues faced by those that have been abused are low self esteem, anxiety and strong feelings of guilt and shame. I use CBT to challenge these feelings and talking therapy to reconnect to suppressed emotions which tend to be impacting on everyday life. I offer a safe, non-judgemental space for client’s to work through what has happened to them and teach them the tools needed to empower them to move forwards with their life and break free from feeling stuck.

Contact Katherine

Katherine Herbert
46 The Parade
Watford WD17 1AY

tel: 07949 965 374
email: info@watfordtherapist.co.uk

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