Kay Holdsworth, BACP
Kay Holdsworth offers straightforward, practical support for people feeling stuck, overwhelmed or low.
- Stress & Anxiety
- Self Esteem
- Career difficulties
- +18 more
About Kay
Kay Holdsworth offers straightforward, practical support for people feeling stuck, overwhelmed or low. She focuses on helping clients make clear choices, manage stress and build small routines that lead to lasting change. Kay writes plainly and sets realistic tasks to help people practise new skills between sessions.
Kay uses a mix of talking therapy, coaching and creativity to suit different needs. Sessions often include exercises, guided relaxations or journalling when useful.
Background and approach
She encourages clients to try small experiments and reflect on what helps them most. Kay trained with a Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2017 and holds accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - BACP. She also completed Solution Focused training in 2021 and a Creative Counselling qualification in 2023.
These courses shape a flexible, person-focused way of working. Her background includes several years delivering community wellbeing courses and group work, including mindfulness and relaxation programmes at a psychiatric hospital. She currently works as a student counsellor at a Leeds university and previously supported people as a wellbeing practitioner.
Sessions are practical and task-oriented when that fits the client, and more exploratory when people need to understand patterns or painful past events. Kay aims to help people build confidence to trust their own decisions and to find calmer ways of coping with life changes. People who want clear steps, creative tools and gentle challenge may find this approach helpful.
The work expects commitment between appointments and a willingness to try new strategies.
Registration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 380509 | March 2026 |
Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
What Kay works with
Everything Kay lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Kay lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Online support
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Kay will talk with clients about goals, preferences and what has or hasn't helped before. She adapts techniques as needed and often combines approaches so sessions match each person's needs in a collaborative way.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to use a camera. Live chat and text-based messaging suit quick check-ins, shorter reflections or people who find typed communication easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, family or travel while keeping the focus on practical skills and steady progress.
Frequently asked
What kinds of problems does Kay help with?
Kay supports people with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression as well as career concerns, addictions and grief. She also works with issues such as trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD and compassion fatigue.
What is Kay's general therapy style?
Her style combines talking therapy and coaching with practical exercises and creative techniques. Sessions may include guided relaxations, journalling tasks and short experiments to try between appointments.
How long has Kay been practising?
She has around five years of experience working in counselling and related roles, including community courses and university-based wellbeing work.
What professional credential does she hold and where is she based?
Kay is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - BACP. She is based in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with Kay if I'm outside the UK?
International clients are accepted and sessions can be arranged for people living outside the United Kingdom.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What do I need to do to start?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session according to the therapist's availability.
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