CBT counselling for young adults in
Edinburgh, Midlothian & ONLINE
The Steady Place
You might be here because something doesn’t feel quite right - either for you, or for a young person you care about.
You don’t have to decide anything yet.
I offer a relaxed, no-pressure first chat - just to see if it feels like the right fit.
You're also very welcome to send a quick message to ask a question - even if you are not sure about booking yet.
ABOUT KATE WILLIAMSON
Hi, I’m Kate, and I’m really glad you’re here. Reaching out for support isn’t always easy, especially if you’re not quite sure what you need yet.
I offer a calm, steady space where you can talk things through, make sense of what’s going on, and feel supported, just as you are.
If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or struggling to find your way right now, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I’m a qualified CBT counsellor, with additional trauma‑informed training, and experience supporting young people across a range of wellbeing and mental health settings, including recent work within Borders College, providing one‑to‑one and group support.
Before moving into counselling, I spent many years working in community and education settings, including managing a playgroup and supporting children and young people in early years and primary school environments.
Over time, these experiences have shaped how I understand people - not as labels or problems to be solved, but as individuals doing their best to cope with pressure, uncertainty, and expectations that don’t always fit.
Much of my work has involved supporting young people at points where they feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of where they belong. I’ve seen how often young people are expected to keep going, to “get on with things”, without always having the space to slow down and genuinely be heard.
That’s where my passion for this work comes from.
The way I work is relaxed and down‑to‑earth - more like a conversation than anything formal or clinical - while still offering the structure and support needed to make meaningful change feel possible.
For parents, I know it’s not always easy to know when to reach out, or whether support outside the family is the right step. This space is there to sit alongside what you’re already doing, not to replace it.
As both a practitioner and a parent, I understand how complex this stage of life can be - for young people themselves and for the families around them.
I aim to offer something different: a calm, steady space where you can take things at your own pace, speak openly, and feel taken seriously.
I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, to carry things quietly, and to not always have the words for what’s going on. That’s why this work matters to me - creating a space where you don’t have to have everything figured out, and where you can begin to make sense of things in your own way.
Qualifications and experience
I am a qualified counsellor with a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Groupwork, with experience supporting young people through both one-to-one counselling and group-based interventions across education, community and wellbeing settings.
Alongside my counselling training, I have spent many years supporting young people and adults in colleges, community services, mental health charities and educational environments. My work has included supporting people experiencing anxiety, low mood, emotional overwhelm, life transitions, challenges around identity, and recovery from addiction.
What matters most to me is creating a space where people feel comfortable enough to be themselves. I understand that many young people don't naturally connect with traditional ideas of counselling, and I believe support should feel approachable, relatable and tailored to the individual.
One of the things I enjoy most about my work is helping young people reconnect with what I often call their glimmer - the strengths, interests, humour and qualities that can become hidden beneath anxiety, overwhelm or self-doubt. Rather than focusing only on what's difficult, I work collaboratively to help young people recognise what is already there and build from it.
I am a Student Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work in accordance with their Ethical Framework, ensuring safe, respectful and professional practice.
How I work
I take a flexible, collaborative approach to counselling, shaped around you and what feels most helpful at the time.
My work is grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), alongside person‑centred and trauma‑informed approaches. In practice, that means we don’t have to force things into one way of working or follow a set formula.
Some sessions might focus on understanding patterns, building awareness, or learning practical tools to manage things differently. Other sessions might be about slowing things down - having space to pause, reflect, and breathe.
I don’t see you as something to fix. I see you as someone trying to navigate something that feels hard.
We’ll work together to find what actually helps, moving at a pace that feels manageable and right for you.
Sessions can be short-term or longer-term, depending on what feels helpful. We simply take things one step at a time.
What to Expect
Sessions are a space where you can speak openly, without judgement and without pressure to say things a particular way.
You set the pace. We can take things one step at a time, focusing on what feels most important for you in that moment.
I’ll listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and support you in making sense of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Where it feels helpful, I may offer tools or different ways of understanding things, but always in a way that feels manageable, relevant, and led by you.
What Matters to Me
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Creating a calm, safe space where you feel accepted just as you are
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Being real and human in the work – more like a conversation than anything overly clinical or rigid
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Moving at your pace, without rushing or pushing for quick fixes
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Helping you find your glimmer – the strengths, qualities and parts of you that are still there, even when life feels difficult