Welcome

Welcome to my private counselling practice ‘Vale of Belvoir Counselling’. My name is Kathy Humberstone. I am so glad that you are reading about my practice and considering taking the step of contacting me. 

---

I work from home in a warm and inviting counselling room in the beautiful village of Stathern, nestled in the Vale of Belvoir, but close to towns such as Melton Mowbray, Grantham, Bingham, and a little further away, there is Leicester and Nottingham. 

I offer counselling and psychotherapy services to children, young people, adults of all ages and couples. I also work as a counselling supervisor with qualified and trainee counsellors. I can work with supervisees individually or in small groups.  Alongside my private counselling practice, I also work in higher education at the University of Derby, where I am senior lecturer and programme leader of BSc Counselling and Psychotherapy (Humanistic Approaches), a programme which offers professional counselling training to undergraduates. 

My clients and supervisees decide whether to work with me in person, online, or via the telephone. I can offer any of these ways of working, or a mixture of ways. 

Looking for the right counsellor can be a daunting process and there are lots of things to consider. Please take the time to look at this website. If you have specific questions that aren’t addressed on this website, please contact me via WhatsApp, text, or email. If you’d like to arrange a telephone call or a visit, I welcome that too. Initial meetings or calls to discuss commencing counselling are free, and it may help you to decide if I am the right counsellor for you.  

I believe that humans like to be connected. I think you can see this when crowds come together at football matches, concerts and festivals or in church, for example. Being in a crowd of like-minded people can feel very good. Through my experience in counselling, I have come to recognise and value the human need for connection to self and to others, and I believe human connection can be very healing. 

If you are feeling lost or uncertain, or you are struggling to find meaning in life, you may be feeling disconnected from yourself or from others. This loss of contact with yourself, your needs, beliefs and values, may erode your trust in your ability to form meaningful relationships and to attain personal goals. 

A counselling (therapeutic) relationship can offer the opportunity to find renewed belief in yourself and others. It can help to improve your self-confidence, enable clearer decision-making, and the opportunity to begin to live life in a more meaningful and satisfying way. Trust is essential in a counselling relationship, and I offer you security, sensitivity, warmth and support, which will offer you the opportunity to build trust with me. 

My approach to counselling and psychotherapy is centred on you, the unique person you are. I’m deeply influenced by person-centred counselling theory which was developed by an American psychologist called Dr. Carl Rogers. This theory simply means that I believe you are the expert on you. You have the inner strength and wisdom to grow, to heal, and to reach your fullest potential. 

In our counselling sessions, my goal is to create a safe, warm, and completely non-judgemental space, where you can truly be yourself to explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences freely. I strive to offer what we call the ‘core conditions’ of person-centred therapy: genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and accurate empathy. 

• Genuineness: You can expect me to be authentic and real with you. I’ll be myself and truly present in our sessions. 
• Unconditional Positive Regard: I will accept you just as you are, without any conditions or judgement. I deeply value you as a person, no matter what you’re going through. 
• Accurate Empathy: I will do my very best to understand your perspective, your feelings and your experiences as if they were my own, and I’ll let you know that I’m truly hearing you. 

In person-centred counselling therapy, you are at the heart of our work together. We’ll collaborate to explore what matters most to you, and I’ll support you every step of the way as you discover your own path towards lasting personal growth, well-being, and a more fulfilling life. I’m truly honoured to be a part of your journey. “If it feels right for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.”