Katie Shaw, BACP

Katie Shaw is a counsellor with more than two decades of experience. She works in a straightforward, compassionate way with people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and depression. Katie aims to make the first steps easier for someone who feels unsure about seeking help.

She uses a mix of counselling models such as person-centred, cognitive behavioural and solution-focused approaches to suit each person. Sessions centre on what the client wants to address, with the counsellor listening and helping to identify practical ways forward. The work often focuses on building confidence, improving communication and handling relationship worries including feelings like jealousy.

Katie has worked in a variety of settings since qualifying in 2003 and currently also supports students and staff as a school counsellor in a secondary school and sixth form. She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.

In sessions she aims to be warm, empathic and non-judgemental. Clients can expect a calm space to talk through what is affecting them and to consider possible next steps. The counselling is tailored to each person’s needs and situation.

Practical goals are explored alongside emotional understanding. Katie helps people spot small changes that can make daily life feel more manageable and resourceful.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

She commonly draws on person-centred ways of working, which focus on listening closely and reflecting what matters to the client so they can feel heard and understood. This approach helps when someone wants a calmer, supportive space to talk through feelings and make decisions.

She also uses cognitive behavioural ideas to look at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact. These techniques are useful for managing anxiety, stress and patterns that lower self-esteem by helping people test new ways of thinking and acting.

Solution-focused methods are part of her toolkit too, concentrating on small, practical steps and achievable goals. This can help when someone needs quick, manageable strategies to cope with specific problems like communication issues or relationship strain.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss what seems most helpful based on the person's needs, goals and preferences, and adapt the mix of methods as therapy progresses.

The biography does not specify session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work, study or caregiving, avoid travel time and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can offer effective support by focusing on what will help most in day-to-day life.