Catherine Harding

As at 18/9/24 availability is very limited. I don't anticipate being able to take on any new clients until end October/November 2024. 

I am a qualified BACP registered therapeutic counsellor who works with adults of all ages and young people over 15 years old.

I work with clients dealing with all kinds of issues including anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, relationship difficulties or low self esteem.

Maybe you are re-evaluating your life or relationships, or coping with change or a difficult family situation. Or it may be that you are feeling distressed, anxious or unhappy and not sure how to deal with those feelings.

I can provide a confidential safe place for you to explore what you are feeling, a place to deal with what went on in the past and a place to think about what you want to have in your life going forward.

One of the areas I specialise in is working therapeutically with clients who have ADHD, Autism Spectrum Condition or other neurodiverse conditions. My own experience of having ADHD has shaped my approach and professional interest in this area. I work in a neuro affirmative way, which means I accept the differences in all of us and recognise the strengths and abilities we have as well as the adjustments we might need to allow us to be more ourselves. We usually start with thinking about what is causing you the greatest difficulty at the moment and direct our work together based on your priorities.

Often people come to see me because they are adjusting to their own or a family members’ diagnosis. Sometimes we may be grieving or angry about what we haven’t had so far. It may be that you want to understand yourself or others better, or to accept who you are so you can be more at peace with yourself. It may be that you are having to navigate changes in your life like a new relationship or a new work or social environment.

I can help you think about whatever it is within a professional, supportive therapeutic relationship.

I offer an open and non judgmental approach, either as short,  medium-term work or as ongoing sessions.

Private work is done through my counselling agency, Bowbrook Counselling.

I am an integrative counsellor, which means I have studied and thought about many different theories of why we are the way we are and how we can address any difficulties we are experiencing.  

I find that every client is different so I use different aspects of these theories in our work together. We can use traditional talking therapy or we might use creative or visual tools to help you express what you are feeling or want to change in your life. 

I have seen older adults and adult clients of all ages through independent counselling agencies and I have worked with adolescents in a sixth form college environment.

I have completed additional diploma level qualifications in working with adolescents. I have completed further professional development in working with LGBT+issues, anxiety, trauma, working with ADHD, working with ADHD in women and in working with neurodivergent clients.  

I also have experience dealing with fatigue conditions like Chronic Fatigue/ME and Long Covid, as well as stress and executive burnout.

I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, maintaining strict client confidentiality within UK legal requirements. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and all client data is treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). 

Standard sessions are 50 minutes long and we can work together either face to face in rooms in Basingstoke town centre, on the phone or online through zoom.

I believe it is important that the 'chemistry' is right between you and any counsellor you choose to work with. To try and help with this, I offer a 15-20 minute initial phone call free of charge to begin to talk about why you want to have counselling and give you a chance to ask any immediate questions you may have about me and how I work.

The next step is an initial assessment session, which is chargeable. This session can be longer (up to 1 hour 10 minutes) and costs £75.  This is the beginning of our work together, so there is some information gathering in this session as well as some time for us to consider what your needs are, establish an initial time period to work together and identify any therapeutic goals. It’s ok if you don’t know exactly what you want to achieve when you start, we can talk about it together and these goals can be reviewed as we go along.

Please contact me if you have any further questions or would like to explore the possibility of us working together. 

As at 18/9/24  availability is very limited.  I don't anticipate being able to take on any new clients until end October/November 2024. 

ADHD / NEURODIVERGENT COUNSELLOR

I am a qualified BACP registered therapeutic counsellor who works with adults of all ages and young people over 15 years old. 

I work with clients dealing with all kinds of issues including anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, relationship difficulties or low self esteem. 

Maybe you are re-evaluating your life or relationships, or coping with change or a difficult family situation. Or it may be that you are feeling distressed, anxious or unhappy and not sure how to deal with those feelings. 

I can provide a confidential safe place for you to explore what you are feeling, a place to deal with what went on in the past and a place to think about what you want to have in your life going forward. 

One of the areas I specialise in is working therapeutically with clients who have ADHD, Autism Spectrum Condition or other neurodiverse conditions. My own experience of having ADHD has shaped my approach and professional interest in this area.  I work in a neuro affirmative way, which means I accept the differences in all of us and recognise the strengths and abilities we have as well as the adjustments we might need to allow us to be more ourselves.  We usually start with thinking about what is causing you the greatest difficulty at the moment and direct our work together based on your priorities. 

Often people come to see me because they are adjusting to their own or a family members’ diagnosis. Sometimes we may be grieving or angry about what we haven’t had so far. It may be that you want to understand yourself or others better, or to accept who you are so you can be more at peace with yourself. It may be that you are having to navigate changes in your life like a new relationship or a new work or social environment. 

I can help you think about whatever it is within a professional, supportive therapeutic relationship. 

I offer an open and non judgmental approach, either as short or medium-term work or as ongoing sessions.

Private work is done through my counselling agency, Bowbrook Counselling.

Standard sessions are 50 minutes long and we can work together either face to face in rooms in Basingstoke town centre, on the phone or online through zoom.

I am an integrative counsellor, which means I have studied and thought about many different theories of why we are the way we are and how we can address any difficulties we are experiencing.

I find that every client is different so I use different aspects of these theories in our work together. We can use traditional talking therapy or we might use creative or visual tools to help you express what you are feeling or want to change in your life.

I have seen older adults and adult clients of all ages through independent counselling agencies and I have worked with adolescents in a sixth form college environment.  

Areas of Speciality -  As well as my qualification training, I have completed additional diploma level qualifications in working with adolescents. I have extend my professional training with further development in topics like: working with anxiety, supporting recovery from trauma, LGBTQ+ issues and working with and understanding neurodivergent traits.  

Over the last few years I have undertaken additional professional development specifically in regard to working with ADHD.   Specific courses included: Working Therapeutically with ADHD, CBT Plus for ADHD,  ADHD & Women, and Understanding Autism. 

Professional Membership - I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, maintaining strict client confidentiality within UK legal requirements. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and all client data is treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). 

I believe it is important that the 'chemistry' is right between you and any counsellor you choose to work with. To try and help with this, I offer a 15-20 minute initial phone call free of charge to begin to talk about why you want to have counselling and give you a chance to ask any immediate questions you may have about me and how I work.

The next step is an initial assessment session, which is chargeable. This session can be longer (up to 1 hour 10 mins) and costs £75.  This is the beginning of our work together, so there is some information gathering in this session as well as some time for us to consider what your needs are, establish an initial time period to work together and identify any therapeutic goals. It’s ok if you don’t know exactly what you want to achieve when you start, we can talk about it together and these goals can be reviewed as we go along.

Please contact me if you have any further questions or would like to explore the possibility of us working together.