Relationship therapist in SW London and Surrey
Meet Katharine Schofield
It takes a certain set of skills and a particular awareness of the mental processes at work to investigate the relationship between two people, whether same sex or opposite sexes. In addition, it takes a certain degree of specialist training to be able to manage the three people in the room (therapist and couple). I have trained for 4 years, 3 of those being specifically with couple relationships as my focus. Although I also work with individuals on their relationship problems it is this very specific training that helps me understand and deal with relationship problems more fully than someone who has completed a general counselling or psychotherapy training.
My Experience
Counsellors and therapists who have finished their training are not required to go through any further training before they can see clients privately. For my part, however, I have seen clients both in my own private practice and within the Tavistock Relationships organisation over the course of 23 years so I bring with me a wealth of experience with all sorts of client groups and relationship problems.
In addition, I have lived and worked abroad and in other industries before becoming a couples therapist so I believe I bring with me a large amount of life experience that helps me to understand the stresses and strains modern living puts on couple relationships.
Professionalism
I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. This means I have completed a course accredited by them and it also means I agree to work within their Code of Ethics. Essentially this code assures that I behave professionally and always put your interests first. The BACP require me to engage in regular supervision and in continuous professional development. They would also be the arbiters in any complaints procedure.
I have full professional indemnity insurance and am registered as a data controller by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Qualifications & Training
- BA Hons (Cantab) – 1996
- Certificate – Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy – WPF – 2003
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Marital and Couple Therapy, Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships – 2007
The centre I trained and worked at for many years, now called Tavistock Relationships, is a centre of excellence both in terms of offering clients therapy and in terms of training therapists. They are able to attract the best talent in this field to help train their staff. As clients you would benefit from this deep knowledge base and intensive training.
Types of relationship issues
It would be impossible for me to list all of the problems I have worked with over the years and the list is of course never comprehensive as everyone’s problems are unique. However, I have frequently encountered problems with infidelity, trust, communication, sex, parenting, attitudes to money, culture and the life cycle (ageing, infertility, new parents, redundancy, menopause, empty nest). I also often work with people who have suffered trauma in early life and people who suffer from addictions. I see people in all types of couple.
If you are an individual who is not in a relationship but has had difficulties forming relationships or with a specific past relationship I may also be able to help you make sense of this and move on.
Testimonials
Fees
I offer a 20 minute initial chat free for anyone wanting to put a face to a name. The next step would be to embark on an assessment period of between 1-4 full length sessions. Once we have established that we can work together I send out a contract and we continue with weekly 50 mins sessions on an open ended basis.
Fees are £100 per couple and £80 per individual. Payment can be made weekly or monthly by card, cash, cheque or bank transfer.
Location
I work in Kingston upon Thames, from a dedicated office in my home. Depending on time of day I either work online through Zoom or in person. The room is quiet, safe and comfortable. Once there you cannot be seen or heard so it’s a totally confidential setting; this is important when discussing difficult issues.
Trains run frequently to Norbiton, the 371 bus stops just nearby and there is free parking outside.
What’s a session like
In our assessment sessions, I will ask you more questions than usual to get a history of your relationship and background. In ongoing sessions there will be times when I will just let you speak and say little, and times when I may reflect on what you are saying and offer another perspective. I use your personal history to gain an understanding of what patterns from the past may be repeating themselves in your relationship. What I don’t tend to do is give “advice” or actual exercises to carry out between sessions. I rarely recommend reading material and I will not keep secrets for one partner from another. The couple is my client (unless you only ever come to see me on your own). I try to see couples together as much as possible but I will consider seeing a client alone if their partner is away or unwell. This would need to be agreed in a previous session.
Confidentiality & Terms
Although you may live or work in the area, you can be assured of complete confidentiality and privacy should you see me outside our sessions. I only discuss my cases with my supervisor and I keep all information safely stored as per recommendations from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
I believe that consistency is key if we are to really move things forward in your relationship. I therefore ask you to commit to coming every week where at all possible. However, I am fully aware of the demands of modern life so if you do have to cancel I ask you to provide me with 72 hours’ notice. Any less than this results in a cancellation fee.
I keep communication outside the sessions to a minimum – this means I do not work on your problems by email, I will be very brief if we meet in the street and I do not connect with clients via social media.