Kate Oliver-Smith, NCPS

Kate Oliver-Smith is a psychotherapeutic counsellor with 13 years of experience who believes people can reach realistic life goals with the right support. She combines counselling skills and previous human resources experience to help people tackle personal and workplace problems. Kate is warm, down to earth and approachable in sessions.

Her early career in human resources involved mediation, coaching and counselling for individuals and groups. That work showed her she enjoyed helping people resolve issues and that she had a strength for it. She later trained in psychotherapeutic approaches, including Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. The qualification NCPS appears with her name as a professional credential.

In practice she blends HR insight with a non-judgemental, empathic stance. Sessions are tailored to the person’s specific situation rather than a one-size-fits-all method. She works with a broad range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and relationship difficulties.

Kate also supports people facing grief, parenting strain, issues around intimacy and work-related stress. She can help with body image, attachment concerns, codependency and coping with long-term health conditions. Her work includes practical steps as well as talking through patterns that keep people stuck.

The style is collaborative and straightforward. Clients can expect a mix of talking, reflective questions and goal-focused techniques. Kate aims to help people build confidence, make changes and find clearer ways forward.

How her approaches work in online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person’s own experience and aims to create a supportive space where clients lead the conversation. It helps when someone needs to feel heard, build self-worth and make sense of personal choices. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, low mood and stress. Existential Therapy helps people consider meaning, values and life choices when they feel stuck or are facing big life changes.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful, then adapt methods as work progresses. Clients are encouraged to give feedback so sessions match their needs over time.

Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week by removing travel and offering more flexible scheduling. It can also allow shorter check-ins or sessions that suit a work break when that helps. The biography does not specify which session formats are used, so confirm available formats before booking to find the most convenient option for your situation.