Directory entry

Kay Holdsworth, BACP

Credentials: BACP
Experience: 5 years
Practising in: United Kingdom
Languages: English
Sessions: Online only
Client ages: Adults, 18 and over

Works with Stress, Anxiety Self esteemCareer difficultiesDepression Coping with life changes

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Kay Holdsworth helps people who feel stuck, overwhelmed or unsure how to make changes in their lives. She is a counsellor and psychotherapist who focuses on practical steps people can take. Kay writes plainly and works with straightforward tools so clients can build momentum and feel steadier day to day.

She draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centred work and cognitive behavioural techniques to address anxiety, low mood and stress.

Background and approach

Kay also offers mindfulness, hypnotherapy and motivational interviewing tools when these suit a person's goals. Sessions often include simple exercises, breathing practices or short experiments to try between meetings. Kay has five years of practice and holds BACP accreditation, which reflects her professional registration.

Her background includes work in higher education where she supported students as a student counsellor and wellbeing practitioner. She has also run community wellbeing courses and a mental health drop-in group. In sessions she encourages people to be honest about what helps and what does not.

She often suggests journalling and sets small, realistic tasks to build new habits. The emphasis is on learning practical strategies to manage stress, improve sleep, tackle addictive patterns and rebuild confidence. People come to Kay for support with issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy questions, grief, trauma, ADHD and parenting concerns.

She aims to help clients find clearer direction, make decisions they can trust and gradually regain a sense of control.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and refocus on what matters to them. It is useful for anxiety, stress and life changes where someone wants clearer values and direction. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and uses practical exercises to change patterns that keep problems going. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve sleep, mood and coping.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kay will discuss what feels most useful and test methods together, adjusting techniques to match a person's goals and preferences. The process is collaborative - the therapist and client agree on tasks or short experiments and review what helps.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when clarity matters. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging suit short check-ins, mood tracking or brief coaching between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments while still using ACT, CBT or mindfulness techniques.

What sorts of problems does Kay help with?

She supports people facing stress, anxiety, low mood and problems with sleep or eating. Other areas include relationship and intimacy issues, grief, trauma, ADHD and work or career concerns.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style combines client-centred listening with practical techniques from ACT and CBT. Sessions often include simple exercises, mindfulness and occasional guided relaxations.

How long has she been practising?

Kay has five years of professional experience working in counselling and psychotherapy roles. Her background includes university wellbeing work and community course delivery.

Where is she based and what credentials does she hold?

She is based in the United Kingdom and holds BACP accreditation as stated in her credentials.

Can I work with her if I live outside the UK?

Sessions are offered to international clients and she conducts work with people outside the United Kingdom.

Which session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How are fees handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of focus

What this therapist works with

Most often

Stress, Anxiety
Self esteem
Career difficulties

Also listed

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 5 years
Registered with: BACP
Languages: English

Contacting Kay

Kay takes enquiries through BetterHelp. You answer a few questions about what you are looking for, then arrange sessions if it seems like a fit. Browsing costs nothing and you are not committing to anything by reading this page.

Kay Holdsworth, BACP

Background and approach

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Areas of focus

What this therapist works with

Others working with stress, anxiety