About Kelly
Hi, I'm Kelly.
I’m a therapeutic counsellor, a qualified teacher and the founder of Kindred-Ear. I work with adults, children and young people, with a particular focus on grief, bereavement and the changes that can leave life feeling unfamiliar.
Choosing a counsellor is personal. Alongside knowing someone’s qualifications, you probably want a sense of who they are and whether you could feel comfortable talking to them.
I bring warmth, patience and a down-to-earth approach to my work. I’m interested in getting to know you—what matters to you, the people and experiences that have shaped you, and what you need from our time together.
There’s no particular way you need to be when we meet. We can start with whatever feels easiest to say.
Why this work matters to me
My own experiences of loss have shaped my understanding of how lonely grief can feel, and how much it can change the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
They’ve also made me appreciate the value of someone who can stay alongside difficult feelings, without needing to find a positive angle or make everything better.
Your experience will be different from mine. I want to understand what your loss means to you, including the parts that might feel complicated, contradictory or difficult to share.
That’s an important part of why I do this work: to offer somewhere you can feel heard, even when you’re still trying to understand your feelings yourself.
The experience I bring
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent more than 13 years working in education. My experience includes mainstream schools and specialist settings, supporting children and young people with a wide range of emotional and learning needs.
I’ve seen how easily someone’s distress can be overlooked when they’re quiet, keeping up appearances or expressing their feelings through behaviour. That experience shapes the patience and curiosity I bring to my counselling work.
My counselling experience includes working in schools, a further education college and private practice. Today, I support adults as well as children and young people.
When I work with younger clients, I draw on both my teaching and counselling experience to adapt how we communicate and build trust. I also understand how difficult it can feel for parents who know their child is struggling but aren’t sure how to reach them.
Whatever your age, I want to understand you as a whole person, including your relationships, background, identity and the things that help you feel like yourself.
What clients often say
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"I have found that I am able to be open and my true self when talking to Kelly. I feel truly heard and understood when sharing my thoughts and feelings with her. She has a gentle way of supporting me to think about things in different ways."
Previous client
“I was directed towards Kelly by a colleague who felt she would be ideally placed to support me through the needs I presented at the time that related to my children and feelings around generational understanding and acceptance. I initially attempted to hold back, not wanting to be perceived as ‘weak’ but soon found that Kelly held my hidden fragile self with care and respectful regard. I felt seen, heard, and understood in a way I had previously felt was not attainable. During our sessions, Kelly demonstrated a level of personable professionalism that felt effortless, was enabling, and gave me the space to explore without judgement.”
Previous client
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"Kelly is someone who makes you feel at ease. She is easy to talk to and always listens with genuine care. I highly recommend her services"
Previous client
What it’s like to sit with me
Our sessions are a conversation, with room to pause, reflect and return to things that still need attention.
I’ll listen closely and ask questions to help us explore your experience. Sometimes I may gently reflect something I’ve noticed, and we can think about whether it fits for you. Your perspective matters, including when I haven’t quite understood.
You can talk about the person you miss, a relationship that was complicated, something you regret, or the practical difficulty of getting through the week. There’s room for ordinary moments, fond memories and laughter too, whenever they arise.
If words feel difficult, we can explore using writing, drawing or images. You can choose what feels comfortable; you don’t need to be creative or artistic.
I hope that, as we get to know each other, you’ll feel able to bring more of yourself into the conversation.
We can start with a conversation
You can read about a counsellor and still be unsure whether they’re the right person for you. A first conversation can help.
I offer a free 20-minute introductory call so we can meet, talk a little about what you’re looking for and answer your questions. If you’re seeking support for your child, we can discuss that too.
There’s no obligation to book further sessions. It’s an opportunity for us both to consider whether working together feels right.
Book a free introductory call
Prefer to write first? You’re welcome to send me a message through my contact page.
Qualifications and professional membership
I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP).
My qualifications include:
Foundation Degree in Counselling
BACP Accredited Diploma in Counselling
BA (Hons) Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status
Training in Online and Telephone Counselling — Counselling Tutor
My further training includes bereavement counselling, working with loss, single-session therapy and trauma-informed creative practice.
I attend regular clinical supervision and continue developing my knowledge and skills through professional training and reflection. I also hold an enhanced DBS certificate.