Why did you get into Psychology in the first place?
I was a bit of a latecomer to Psychology, and didn’t begin the long career transition into it until I was about 40. I knew that it was the ‘understanding people’ part of my job as a ‘headhunter’ that I enjoyed the most, but it really wasn’t until after I had gone through one of the most difficult times and emotional events in my own life that I decided I wanted to focus on helping people. Fortunately both my work experience focusing on understanding people and my past study of philosophy and cultural theory gave me a nice firm foundation to build upon. But the most useful aspect of coming to Psychology at a later stage of my work life is that I have experienced quite a lot in my own life, both its challenges and its joys – including being a mother/parent (she is now an adult!). I really believe that it is a combination of university study/qualifications and life experience that enables psychologists to understand, empathise with, and help their clients.
What activities do you enjoy outside work?
Reading – mostly contemporary literature/fiction; gym-ing – heavy deadlifts, handstand walks and rope-climbs are my favourite moves; dancing and music – particularly progressive trance, house and techno (especially when enjoyed with friends); café brunches and eating delicious food!
What do you like best about your job?
Creating a safe space for someone to talk about things that they may never have opened up to anyone
about before is a true honour. And being trusted by a client to work with them to deal with a problem or to change their lives for the better is not a responsibility I take lightly. It’s important to remember that your psychologist doesn’t just focus on you for the hour that you are in the room with them. Outside of that time they hold you in mind as they do research, as they plan your next session, or when they consult colleagues to make sure they have considered the best treatment option for you. It is this focus on helping people in the best possible way that I find most rewarding.
What is the best holiday you’ve ever been on?
Ah, tough question! It’s 7 years ago now, but Everest Base Camp is still a stand out for me. I had been working very long hours before I went and had been beginning to have difficulties
sleeping, relaxing or really enjoying myself at all. I was always ‘plugged in’ and checking my phone for work emails, etc. I made a decision to leave my phone at home and flew to Nepal with the trip all pre-arranged. I had auditory hallucinations for the first week. I would actually ‘hear’ my phone ring and vibrate – it was thousands of kilometres
away! Focusing on just taking that next step up the mountain and being present in that beautiful landscape with its amazing people really helped me get some perspective.
Which are your favourite therapies to draw from and why?
This changes depending on what I am researching as different therapies are appropriate for different people and issues. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) are a few of my favourites, as they allow for helping a client with what they are experiencing right now, while also exploring what emotions, thoughts, and behaviours they may have brought with them from past experiences.
Underlying all of those therapies I mostly align with an existential view that whatever is going on there are ultimately four major concerns that we have as humans:
- Death – which as well as grieving and bereavement, also includes major life changes and identity issues such as losing or changing a job, retirement, becoming a parent, and aging;
- Isolation – issues such as loneliness, communication and social anxiety;
- Freedom – facing life choices and decisions (both professional and personal) as well as dealing with feeling trapped, helpless or disempowered; and,
- Meaninglessness – which often involves us working to understand what makes life worth living, what motivates us, and what makes us happy.
Kate has appointments available on Mondays 11:30am – 5:45pm, Tuesdays 1:30pm – 5:30pm and Wednesdays 7:45am – 3:30pm.
If you think Kate would be a good match for you and your goals, book online or give us a call on 3532 8954.