Dr Katie Heath-Tilford Counselling Psychologist, Integative Psychotherapist and EMDR Therapist

Therapeutic Approach

I work within an integrative, relational framework. What this means is that I’m trained in a range of therapeutic methods such as Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Person-Centered Therapy and Mindfulness to mention only a few. I have worked with adults with a wide variety of emotional, psychological and relational difficulties and the nature, cause and history of their problems are always as unique as they are. For this reason I work in an integrative way rather than with a ‘one size fits all’ approach. I see psychotherapy as a collaborative endeavour and together we will help you make better sense of your experiences, thoughts and emotions, discover meaning, recognise patterns and explore options available to you. We will work together to help you process traumatic memories and dysfunctional patterns from your past which are getting in the way of you living your life to its full potential. The therapeutic process will strengthen your sense of self and help you think more clearly and kindly about yourself and clarify your connections with others. 

Am I the right therapist for you? 

Entering therapy requires commitment and trust, so choosing someone you can build a relationship with is really important. You need to feel safe with your therapist and to be able to develop a trusting therapeutic relationship, so I use the first session as a consultation, not only to see whether I can help you, but also to see if you feel that I am the right therapist for you. Working with the right person is vital if the therapy is going to be useful and for this reason I offer potential clients a half price initial session so that we can see whether we are right for each other. At this session I invite you to ask as many questions as you like and we can have a relaxed conversation about what’s troubling you. If at the end of this session it seems that a different therapist would be better suited to you or your needs, I am very happy to recommend alternative therapists. To book an initial appointment or for a brief chat, please visit my contact page.

Qualifications and Experience

I have spent many years working with clients in a variety of mental health and therapeutic settings, both privately and within the NHS. I am a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), the UK Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the EMDR Association UK and Ireland. I hold an undergraduate conversion degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in the Psychology of Education a Clinical Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy. My doctoral research examined the treatment of Complex Trauma, using Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) as part of an integrative treatment plan.