Dr Kate Balla
I am a Clinical Psychologist with 11 years experiencing working within psychology services across the NHS and third sector. I have had the privilege of working with adults and children from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences to help alleviate the difficulties in their lives. Much of my experience has involved working with both adults and children who are affected by neurological conditions, autism and intellectual disability. I have worked with people on an individual and group level, and have also worked with families, staff teams, carers, social care, external agencies. I have also published research that explored the experiences of young people with neurodevelopmental conditions transitioning between children and adult health care services.
My therapy approaches are based on the understanding that we all face challenges and difficulties in our lives, it is part of being human; sometimes we feel able to manage during these difficult times, and other times we may seek additional support. When I meet people, they are often unsure or worried about therapy and what to expect. As a psychologist, it is important to me to be warm, empathetic, compassionate, genuine, flexible and creative. These qualities help to create a therapeutic space that feels safe for people to share their stories and the challenges they face (or previously faced), as well as their strengths and resiliencies. I am passionate about working collaboratively with people to develop a psychological understanding of what has brought them to therapy and I draw on a range of therapeutic models including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Behavioural Therapy. I aim to support people on their journey of moving closer to what they truly value, whilst being mindful of the challenges people may experience on this journey.
I can offer in-person appointments at Empower Psychology on a Wednesday and Thursday evening and Saturday morning. Some appointments can also be offered online.