Kathy Humberstone

I believe that humans like to be connected with each other. I think you can see this when crowds come together at football matches, concerts and festivals or in church for example. Being in a crowd of like minded people can feel very good.

Through my counselling training and practice I have come to recognise and value the human need for connection to self and others,and I believe human connection to be very healing.

If you are feeling lost, uncertain or are struggling to find meaning in life you may be feeling disconnected from yourself or from others. This loss of contact with yourself, your needs, beliefs and values, may erode your trust in your ability to form meaningful relationships and attain personal goals.

A therapeutic relationship can offer the opportunity to find renewed belief in yourself and in others. It can help to provide self confidence, enabling clearer decision making and the ability to begin to live life in a more meaningful and satisfying way. Trust is absolutely essential in this type of relationship and I offer security, sensitivity, warmth and support enabling you to build trust.

I have trained in and practice the person centred approach to counselling. This is based on the theory and philosophy of Dr Carl Rogers. My approach is non directive and non-judgemental, as I fundamentally believe in your potential and ability to make the right choices for you, regardless of my own values, beliefs and ideas. My role is to walk beside you as you figure things out, offering you all of my humanity, my honesty, integrity and soul.

I work from home, using a dedicated counselling room that is wheelchair accessible. I work with children and young people, adults and couples. Whilst I normally work face to face, I am able to offer telephone or Skype sessions. I also welcome enquiries from counselling students.  

I am trained to diploma level in counselling supervision. I obtained my qualification through Counselling Xtra in Nottingham, training with Mike Worrall and Linda Smith.

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I am able to offer individual or group supervision, welcoming enquiry from qualified or trainee counsellors or psychotherapists, working with children, young people, and adults. Whilst I work from a person centred perspective, I am able to supervise counsellors or psychotherapists working from different modalities. I am also able to offer supervision to health professionals.

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My offer is an environment in which there is freedom to explore the client work, the therapeutic relationship, the counselling context, counsellor well-being, competence, validation, education and development. From my person centred perspective, all aspects of relationship are important to me and that includes the supervisor/supervisee relationship. My supervisory practice is informed by the BACP Ethical Framework (2018), and by the process model of Hawkin and Schohet (1989).

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From my position as university lecturer involved in the education of counselling students, I can offer understanding of the development needs of counselling students. I am particularly passionate about helping students to develop the ability to be deeply reflective in practice.

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I am able to support counsellors and psychotherapists working towards professional body accreditation.

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I am a Senior lecturer and Programme Leader on the BSc Counselling & Psychotherapy (Humanistic Approaches) at the University of Derby.  

I am a person centred counsellor and supervisor with my own private practice. 

I have a PG Cert HE, and am a fellow of the HEA.

I am able to offer training/workshops on a variety of counselling related topics. 

Please contact me to discuss your requirements.