Kay Holdsworth , BACP

Kay Holdsworth is a counsellor and psychotherapist based in the United Kingdom. She holds the BACP credential and has five years of professional experience. Kay focuses on helping women who feel stuck, overwhelmed or unsure how to make changes in their lives. She aims to give practical tools so people can manage stress, anxiety and low mood and begin to trust themselves again.

Kay uses a mix of approaches in session. She blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and client-centred ways of working with mindfulness and guided relaxations. She often offers practical tasks and short experiments to try between sessions, and may suggest journalling or simple exercises when helpful.

Her background includes work in higher education where she supports student wellbeing and ran community wellbeing courses. That experience includes delivering mindfulness and relaxation courses and running a mental health drop-in group. These roles informed her focus on straightforward, usable strategies for day-to-day life.

Sessions are presented with an emphasis on clarity and action. Kay encourages open feedback about what is and isn’t working so the plan can change. She sometimes introduces creative exercises and guided visualisations for people who find an imaginative approach useful.

People who come for help can expect a practical style that balances talking through feelings with small steps and exercises. The aim is to move from feeling stuck toward clearer choices, steadier mood and more confidence in everyday life.

Approaches that suit online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is about noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then choosing actions that match personal values. It can help with anxiety, stress and making life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking patterns and trying small behavioural experiments to change them, which often helps with low mood, sleep and worry. Client-centred therapy offers a supportive, non-judgemental space where the client leads the pace and direction, useful for building self-esteem and feeling heard.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Kay will discuss goals, preferences and practical needs, and together they will try methods that fit. That collaborative process means plans can change as progress is made and new priorities emerge.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video calls let people use visual cues while phone sessions can work well when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or messaging can be used for shorter check-ins or when a written format feels easier. These options add flexibility for people juggling work, family or other commitments and make it easier to attend from different locations.