Welcome to Symphony Counselling
Helping you bring the different parts of your life into harmony.
Hello I am Kate Matthews,
I am a qualified Humanistic counsellor, registered with the BACP.
I work in Emsworth offering face to face counselling. I also work online and via telephone to anywhere in the UK.
I offer a warm, non-judgemental space for adults and young people (16+) where you can share and express your experience with acceptance. I will not tell you what to do or offer solutions, instead we can use creative approaches within our work, if this feels comfortable, supporting you to make sense of your experience, including Art, Music and Bibliotherapy (using writing and literature).
Prior to qualifying as a counsellor, I worked as a Primary teacher and latterly as a University lecturer. I have over 35 years of experience working with children, young adults and adults in schools and universities, charity and hospice settings. I have experience working with anxiety, relationship issues, long term illnesses, bereavement, sexual abuse, domestic violence and regulating emotions.
Symphony counselling understands many different aspects of your life contribute to how you are feeling. Like a symphony you are an elaborate composition of many parts – roles, relationships and responsibilities which can work in harmony when in tune and combined. When one part is out of the sync this can affect how you experience different parts of your life. Overcoming hurdles and challenges is part of life’s journey but sometimes we need support to work things through.
Together we will work through what is troubling you; together we will realise a way forward using your own resources.
Making sense of these parts might feel as if you are putting different parts of a jigsaw together to explore why you feel uncomfortable; sometimes the pieces fit together easily, but sometimes the pieces can take longer to find. We can explore values and judgements that feel inconsistent with your own and affecting how you feel and behave.
Your Introduction to counselling
Initial consultation
Having counselling for the first time can be nerve wracking - not knowing what to expect, anxieties about previous judgments' or trust, and whether you will feel comfortable with your counsellor. Perhaps this poem reflects some of your experience.
I offer a free 30-minute initial consultation, which can be online via Zoom or Google Meet. This is a no pressure meeting, giving you a chance to tell me about what brings you to counselling and ask questions about how it will work. I am sure you will have more questions too, but after this initial meeting it will give you a feel of how I work and whether it feels like a 'good fit'.
Immersion
Fear: walking into the unknown,
Haunted by memories of past judgement,
Frozen in the moment – tingling with anticipation in my fingers and trembling within,
Knowing it will be ok ... enlightenment.
Haunted by memories of past judgement,
A vast expanse of unknown ahead,
Knowing it will be ok ... enlightenment,
No safe structure to hold and guide me.
A vast expanse of unknown ahead,
Not being able to get off the starting blocks,
No safe structure to hold and guide me,
Drowning in disorder; thoughts, reflections, conversations, notes...
Not being able to get off the starting blocks,
Frozen in the moment – tingling with anticipation in my fingers, trembling within,
Drowning in disorder; thoughts, reflections, conversations, notes,
Fear: walking into the unknown.
Kate Matthews (January, 2024)
What issues can therapy help with?
People come to me for help with a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through therapy:
Abuse
Anxiety
Bereavement
Cancer
Child related issues
Health related issues
Loss
Menopause
Post-traumatic stress
Studies related issues
Redundancy
Relationships
Self esteem
Spirituality
Stress
Trauma
Women's issues
Work related issues
Long term illness
“Live forwards and understand backwards”
Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
“You have 'vast resources' within yourself for self-understanding if a 'climate of facilitative and psychological attitudes can be provided'”
Rogers (1986)
“Finding 'power from within'”
Starhawk (1987)
My location
I work from a private practice at 31b North Street, Emsworth, PO10 7DA, supporting clients from the surrounding areas including Chichester, Havant, Portsmouth, and across the South Coast.
I also offer online counselling for clients throughout the UK, providing flexible and accessible support wherever you are based. Contact me to find out more about how online therapy works.
Sessions & Fees
The cost of a session is £55 and lasts 50 minutes. Sessions usually take place on a weekly basis (although we can talk about this, if this is difficult for you). There is a free 30-minute initial consultation, which can be online or on the phone.
I do offer a limited number of concessionary rates for those on low income or students – please chat to me about this if it is a concern.
Payment Details
I accept payment via bank transfer or cash (for face-to-face sessions). Payment is due in advance of each session. During our initial consultation, I will share my bank details.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please give 48 hours’ notice. If less than 24 hours' notice is given, or if you don't attend a scheduled session without notification, the full fee will be charged. Exceptions may be made in cases of illness or emergency, at my discretion.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
All enquires are usually answered within 48 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.