A space to slow down, reconnect, and be met as you are
You may look like you’re coping — even thriving — from the outside. You’re capable, responsible, and the person others rely on. But inside, things might feel very different: overwhelmed, anxious, stuck in old patterns, or quietly exhausted from holding so much for so long.
Therapy offers a place to gently unlearn these patterns, understand where they came from, and build a more grounded, connected way of being.
You may recognise yourself in this....
Many of the people I work with have spent years overperforming, overgiving, or adapting themselves around others’ needs. These patterns often began in early relationships and have shaped how they show up at work, in friendships, and in love. They’ve learned to be strong, competent, and accommodating — sometimes at the cost of their own wellbeing.
I’m Katherine — a Transactional Analysis psychotherapist (in advanced training) working with individuals and couples in Bristol and online.
Many of the people and couples who come to me are capable, caring, and used to holding things together for others. Yet beneath the surface they may feel overwhelmed, disconnected, stuck in familiar patterns, or uncertain about how to create change.
My approach is warm, relational, and trauma-informed. Together, we explore the patterns, beliefs, and ways of coping that once made sense but may now be limiting your wellbeing, relationships, or sense of self.
I aim to offer a space where you can slow down, understand yourself more deeply, and develop greater freedom and choice in how you live and relate.
Qualifications
- Advanced Diploma in Transactional Analysis
- Accredited with NCPS
- Member of UKATA and UKCP
- MA (hons) Psychology
- MSc Occupational Psychology
Therapy for individuals
You might be here because you’re:
- overwhelmed by anxiety or overthinking
- exhausted from overfunctioning at work or home
- struggling to set boundaries without guilt
- repeating painful relationship patterns
- feeling responsible for everyone else’s emotions
- successful on the outside but depleted on the inside
Together, we’ll explore the roots of these patterns and create space for new, healthier ways of relating — to yourself and others.
Therapy for couples
Relationships often bring our deepest patterns to the surface. Couples come to me when they’re:
- stuck in the same arguments
- feeling distant, unheard, or misunderstood
- caught in a pursue–withdraw cycle
- struggling with trust, resentment, or emotional imbalance
- longing to reconnect but unsure how
I’m trained in Imago Relational Therapy (IRT) and draw on this alongside my Transactional Analysis training to help couples understand where they get stuck and why certain dynamics feel so painful or repetitive. IRT offers a structured, compassionate way of slowing things down so each partner can feel heard, understood, and met with curiosity rather than blame.
Together, we explore the patterns that are playing out between you — often rooted in earlier relational experiences — and begin to create new ways of communicating and connecting. For many couples, this work helps them find their way back to a kinder, more loving relationship. For others, it supports them in separating with as much clarity, respect, and compassion as possible.
Couples therapy helps you understand what’s happening between you, communicate more clearly, and build a relationship that feels secure, respectful, and emotionally nourishing.
How therapy feels with me
Therapy with me is warm, grounding, and relational. I’m a Transactional Analysis psychotherapist (in advanced training), and I work integratively — drawing primarily on TA and attachment theory to help us understand the patterns that shape your relationships with yourself and others.
You can expect a safe, confidential space where you’re met with empathy, clarity, and gentle challenge. Part of our work is creating enough space, to see your experiences from new perspectives. When you’ve spent years over‑adapting or stepping over yourself, it can be hard to notice the patterns you’re caught in. Together, we’ll slow things down, explore what’s happening beneath the surface, and begin to understand the wider landscape of your emotional world.
I’m here to support you — and to help you shift the patterns that keep you carrying too much or losing sight of your own needs. We’ll pay attention to the relational dynamics that show up, build healthier boundaries, and strengthen your connection to yourself.
I work hard for my clients. I want the best for you, and I’m committed to creating a relationship where you feel understood, supported, and able to explore the parts of your life that feel painful, confusing, or stuck — at a pace that feels right for you.
I also work outdoors — in Bristol's green spaces, beside moving water, and for those drawn to the sea, in the surf itself. For some people, stepping outside the therapy room opens something that sitting across from each other doesn't quite reach. Nature is regulating for the nervous system, and water in particular creates conditions for flow, insight and new awareness. What shows up on the board — the moments of freeze, push, or flow — reflects the same internal patterns we explore together. If this way of working calls to you, I'd love to hear from you
Ready to take the next step?
If you’d like to explore working together — individually or as a couple — you’re welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial conversation and see whether we’re a good fit.
Get in touch
Telephone: 07841402103
E-mail: katherine@kdtherapy.co.uk
Address: Bristol, BS3