Kathryn has been trained in a number of different therapy models during and since qualifying. As a child and family practitioner specializing in work with children who are impacted by developmental trauma, her focus is often on relationships and attachments as a source of support and resilience for children, young people and families. There is very strong evidence to suggest that growing or strengthening healthy attachments can make a significant positive difference to children’s thoughts, feelings, behaviour and long term emotional and physical health. Therapy can be one important part of a ‘web’ of support for families which prioritises relationships and connections for children and young people.
Through experience in the work setting, and as a parent herself, Kathryn knows that children (and in fact all people) need to feel safe, understood and accepted to start to make changes when things are difficult. Her approach is to be curious about all parts of a child’s life and to appreciate their interests and passions alongside the things that they, or other people, are finding difficult.
Kathryn’s assessments and therapeutic work will always include listening to everyone in the child’s family and network to understand a child’s needs; a focus on relationships across home, school and communities as the milieu for change; thinking about mind, body and brain and an emphasis on restoring strength and stability in the context of what is already going well.
Kathryn’s specialist, post-qualifying experience includes dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP), solution focused therapy, sensory attachment interventions, assessing attachment in adults using the Attachment Style Interview (ASI) and most recently eye movement desensitisation and re-processing (EMDR), an evidence based psychotherapeutic treatment for trauma. Kathryn has recently begun a Level 5 Diploma in Children’s Health and Social Care Leadership and Management to grow her knowledge and skills in this area as she continues to develop her work in the clinic and the service as a whole.
Kathryn is registered with the Health Care Professions Council (membership number PYL22226) and chartered with the British Psychological Society (membership number 84300).