My Story (in brief!)

My journey as a therapist has been an organic and personal one.

From 13 years in the music industry managing record producers and working with some of the most successful artists in the world, to now 14 years of supporting clients at vulnerable and exciting chapters in their lives. It’s been a rollercoaster at times!

As MD of a hugely successful company I thrived on stress and hard partying during my twenties and early thirties. It was a crazy and exciting time of gigs, studios, triple A passes and travelling 24/7. As with all demanding lifestyles though, something had to give and stress began to take it’s toll on my health to such an extent that a change became essential and in 2008 I left behind my career unsure of my future. Suffering with severe depression and anxiety, and as a result of seeking help myself, I became intrigued and fascinated by the body-mind connection and how we hinder, and can learn to help, ourselves on life's sometimes challenging journey.

I had trained in the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to Aromatherapy, Anatomy & Physiology and Therapeutic Massage in 2004/5 and amongst my most satisfying experiences was being able to use this training to help a friend through a much longed for pregnancy and birth. Attending my godson’s birth in 2004 blew my mind and it was after attending the birth of her second son in 2008 and leaving behind the world of music management that I became very passionate about empowering women to achieve a satisfying birthing experience. I trained with Middlesex University on the (then) only University accredited Doula course in the UK.

My work as a doula and volunteer on the labour ward at a local hospital in East London immediately led me to train as a hypnobirthing teacher in 2009; I knew the difference it made to birth and wanted to share it with everyone I worked with.

Having worked with hundreds of couples in London and throughout the world and having seen the power of hypnosis in changing attitudes towards childbirth, I was keen to broaden my training to help others and so studied with the  to combine CBT psychotherapy training with hypnotherapy. This in turn led to further training with the 'third wave' CBT approach Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) which in turn led to completing a Masters degree in Mindfulness Based Approaches : Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) & Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MBCT) at Bangor University.

I first encountered the intentionally therapeutic benefits of sound 8 years ago and once again my own personal experience and interest has evolved into another string to my professional bow. I've been fortunate to have incredible mentors inspiring and encouraging me and formal training with the Sound Healing Academy.

The last 14 years have been an unfolding of training and clinical practice as a hypnotherapist, a CBT therapist, mindfulness and meditation teacher, sound therapist, doula, author and aromatherapist. I have attracted a large number of clients with general anxiety issues that a combination of all these tools have helped alleviate.

My passion for learning and exploring different disciplines continues both personally and professionally. Sound healing, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, Buddhism, Menstrual Cycle Awareness, shamanic practices, working with the lunar cycle and natures' rhythms - I use all of these practices in my own life and bring them to the conversation, if appropriate, when working with clients.

A new chapter...

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Hear me in conversation on The Eve Event podcast

where we discuss my life in the music industry, what's wrong with hypnobirthing and mindfulness, why I left London and how sound heals everything!

After 23 years of living and working in London, I am now creating my own healing haven in Charnwood on the edge of the National Forest.

The global Covid pandemic changed the way we all work and I am thankful to now connect with clients on all continents for private and group hypnotherapy, mindfulness and hypnobirthing+ sessions. I am able to schedule appointments to suit your time zone and we can connect from the comfort of your own home and/or office.

Here in Leicestershire I am beyond thrilled with the response to my curating soundscape events which are proving hugely popular. There are monthly sound baths, immersive celebrations of the Wheel of the Year, collaborations with select local practitioners and many exciting offerings.

You'll find much more information about what I offer here and I look forward to hearing from you to see how I can best help you. Please feel free to drop me a line and we'll arrange a time to chat.

My Training

  • Masters degree (Distinction awarded) in Mindfulness Based Approaches at Bangor University 2018 - 2022
  • Foundations of Integral Sound Healing, Sound Healing Academy, 2021
  • ACT for Grief & Loss, ACT for Worrying, Rumination & Obsession with Russ Harris, 2021
  • Meditation and Mindfulness coach training with SMARTFoundations in 2015
  • ACT BootCamp, ACT for Anxiety & Depression with Russ Harris 2013-15
  • Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) with CCBT accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in 2012
  • Hypnobirthing Teacher training with the Hypnobirthing Institute in 2009, the KG Hypnobirthing Association in 2011
  • Doula training with Middlesex University in 2008
  • Diplomas in Clinical Holistic Aromatherapy, Anatomy & Physiology and Therapeutic Massage with ITHMA in 2004

My experience has been recognised by others; Pinter and Martin, the highly respected independent publishers, commissioned me to write “Why HypnoBirthing Matters” - an introduction to using hypnosis for birth for a mainstream audience. Published in 2015 I am currently working on updating it for the second edition.

My practice has been informed by personal experience and has evolved quite naturally to such an extent that I bring a broad range of techniques and expertise to whomever is sat in front of me. I consider us to be a team working together and often use a combination of REBT, CBT, ACT, hypnosis, meditation, mindfulness, sound and aromatherapy.

I consider it a privilege to work closely with people at challenging and exciting times in their lives - whether it’s preparing to welcome a baby or dealing with difficulties, be they emotional or physical. Having spent decades being "busy" I now craft my work life balance very carefully so that if we work together you can be sure you have my full attention and care.

Katrina is a senior practitioner with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), registered with the professional standards authority Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).

These organisations ensure that their members adhere to their professional codes of practice, ethical standards, data protection act and keep their skills up-to-date. The CNHC in particular was set up with governmental support to provide the public with an assured list of therapeutic practitioners.

"I found your sessions informative, reassuring and supportive. They were good opportunities to voice concerns and share anxieties I had, especially in connection with the NCT classes we're attending, which can sometimes be quite harrowing. Listening to your measured advice and guidance was a chance to exhale and soften my jaw, literally. I will be channeling you during the birth :-)"

Jess

"I've been doing well lately. Feeling fierce. And strong. Your audio has been helping for those times when I feel less like a lion. But mostly I'm feeling so much stronger. I still use a lot of the grounding techniques that we did and just feeling so much calmer about things, faking it to make it. The power of your mind is something quite amazing. Thank you for helping reconnect with that side of myself. "

Helen

"I have been thinking a lot about our session and I just wanted to say a big thank you. I don't think you know (actually you probably do!) how much it helped to calm me down that day, and has since kept me level-headed and positive about his positioning ever since, despite him moving around like a monkey. I can't quite get over how profoundly amazing the hypnosis session felt and how everything fell into place in my head after seeing you."

Apphia

"Hypnobirthing remains the best money we have spent on our baby. I haven't even touched on how it empowered my hospital and blood phobic husband. I recommend it to anyone. It's not about whale music and a zen labour - it's about what's right for YOU and ensuring you have the tools and information to own the experience, however that may go."

Anna

"It’s dawned on me over the past few weeks (maybe months?) just how far I’ve come in the last few years.  I think this is in large part down to you and I wanted to say thank you.

As I look to next year, a move out of London and in with someone I wanted to say how grateful I am for you seeing me through the bumpy patches, with my anxieties and neuroses.  I don’t think I could be doing this without all the help and support you’ve given me and the work we’ve done together."

Lizzie

"Things are feeling so much better.

I still use a lot of the grounding techniques that we did and just feeling so much calmer about things, faking it to make it. The power of your mind is something quite amazing. Thank you for helping reconnect with that side of myself."

Helen

"I've been doing well lately.

Feeling fierce.

And strong.

Your audio has been helping for those times when I feel less like a lion. But mostly I'm feeling so much stronger. So thank you so much."

Stacey