Kate Oliver-Smith, NCPS
Practical, empathic counselling for life challenges
Continue with Kate
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- Warm and down to earth
- Goal focused
- Human resources background
About Kate
Kate Oliver-Smith is a psychotherapeutic counsellor with 13 years of professional experience. She draws on her earlier Human Resources work to help people untangle personal and workplace problems. Kate combines practical coaching skills with counselling to help clients set and reach realistic goals.
Her background in HR involved mediation and one-to-one support. That work showed her she liked helping people change and that she had a talent for it. She went on to train in psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Person-Centred Therapy and now uses those approaches in her practice.
Kate aims to tailor sessions to each person's needs. She brings a non-judgemental manner and an empathic awareness to conversations. Her style is warm, down to earth and approachable, and she focuses on clear, practical steps as well as listening.
She works with a wide range of issues, including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and relationship difficulties. She also supports people facing grief, parenting strain, sleep problems, career change and challenges linked to attachment or past abuse. Midlife crisis is listed among her areas of focus.
In sessions she mixes talking, practical strategies and reflective work to help people move forward. The aim is to make therapy relevant to everyday life and to help clients find ways to manage feelings, solve problems and reach their goals.
Her background in HR involved mediation and one-to-one support. That work showed her she liked helping people change and that she had a talent for it. She went on to train in psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Person-Centred Therapy and now uses those approaches in her practice.
Kate aims to tailor sessions to each person's needs. She brings a non-judgemental manner and an empathic awareness to conversations. Her style is warm, down to earth and approachable, and she focuses on clear, practical steps as well as listening.
She works with a wide range of issues, including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and relationship difficulties. She also supports people facing grief, parenting strain, sleep problems, career change and challenges linked to attachment or past abuse. Midlife crisis is listed among her areas of focus.
In sessions she mixes talking, practical strategies and reflective work to help people move forward. The aim is to make therapy relevant to everyday life and to help clients find ways to manage feelings, solve problems and reach their goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoachingADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
13+ years
Credentials
United Kingdom
Languages
English
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centred Therapy puts the person's experience at the heart of each session. The counsellor listens without judgement and helps people find their own solutions, which can suit areas like self-esteem, relationship worries and grief.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It uses clear techniques and small experiments to reduce anxiety, manage mood and change unhelpful habits.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Kate will discuss your needs, goals and preferences and suggest ways of working that match what you want to achieve. That decision is made jointly and can evolve as progress is made.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit counselling into everyday life. Please confirm the exact session formats offered before booking, as these are not listed here. In practice, remote sessions can reduce travel, allow shorter check-ins during a busy day, and make it simpler to attend when juggling work or family commitments. Registered or accredited professionals often aim to adapt tasks and homework so they work well between sessions online.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems can I bring to therapy?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and relationship difficulties. Other areas include grief, self-esteem, sleep problems, parenting and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Sessions are described as warm, down to earth and approachable. She uses listening alongside practical steps to help clients make changes.
How long has she been working as a counsellor?
She has 13 years of experience that include Human Resources and psychotherapeutic counselling roles.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds NCPS and works from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
International clients are accepted.
How much does therapy cost and how are sessions billed?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with this counsellor?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.