Tara King

A conversation with Tara King

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I’ve been on my own journey of counselling, healing, and empowerment, and those experiences deeply shape the way I work today. Having walked through my own challenges, I’m able to understand and meet people with genuine empathy, wherever they are on their path.
  
  My career has always been driven by purpose and meaningful connection. This began in the charity sector, where I discovered how passionate I am about supporting individuals on a personal, emotional level. Over time, it became clear that helping people with their emotional wellbeing is something I value deeply.
  
  As a counsellor, my mission is to offer a safe, supportive space where clients can explore, heal, and grow, knowing they are met with understanding and respect.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  Several philosophical and therapeutic approaches have shaped my professional development, each reinforcing my belief in people’s capacity for growth, resilience, and meaningful change. I’m strongly influenced by humanistic and person-centered philosophies, which guide me to meet clients with empathy, authenticity, and acceptance.
  
  My work is also grounded in Bowen’s Family Systems theory and family-of-origin perspectives, which help me understand how early patterns and relationships continue to shape our emotional world. Alongside this, Schema Therapy informs my appreciation of the deeper beliefs and coping modes that clients carry with them, often formed in childhood and expressed throughout life.
  
  To support clients with practical, everyday challenges, I draw on skills-based approaches including ACT, CBT, and DBT, offering tools to build emotional regulation, psychological flexibility, and healthier thinking patterns. At times, I also integrate Narrative Therapy, which empowers clients to reshape the stories they tell about themselves and reconnect with their strengths and preferred identities.
  
  Together, these approaches allow me to create a compassionate, collaborative space where clients feel understood, supported, and equipped to move toward meaningful change.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Clients often begin to feel a sense of progress when they notice small but meaningful shifts in their awareness, emotions, or everyday responses. For some, this might happen early on as they feel truly heard, understood, and supported for the first time. For others, progress becomes noticeable when they start applying new insights or skills in their daily life — such as responding differently to stress, setting healthier boundaries, or recognising patterns with more clarity and self-compassion.
  
  Because each person’s journey is unique, progress doesn’t always look the same. It might be a growing sense of hope, feeling more grounded, experiencing fewer emotional spikes, or simply realising they are no longer facing things alone. My role is to help clients notice and build on these shifts at their own pace, creating steady, sustainable change that feels authentic to them.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy has had a transformative impact on my life. It has enabled me to process past trauma and be fully present in the here and now. Through this work, I have developed a deep understanding of my emotions, learned to regulate them effectively, and establish healthy boundaries.
  
  Therapy has also supported the development of confidence and self-esteem, enabling me to engage fully in my life and relationships, even when facing challenges. These personal experiences inform my approach as a counsellor, allowing me to create a safe, supportive, and empowering space for clients to explore, grow, and navigate their own journeys toward wellbeing.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  What I love most about being a therapist is walking alongside people during some of the most important moments of their lives. Whether they are navigating deep despair or celebrating personal growth, I feel privileged to support, witness, and guide them on their journey. Being present in that process and helping clients find clarity, strength, and hope is truly the most rewarding part of this work.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Of course I do — I’m human too. I believe it’s important to “walk the talk,” which means taking care of myself and my relationships so I can show up fully for my clients. I practice compassion with myself, pay attention to my limits, and honor them when life feels overwhelming.
  
  I also continue with my own therapy and regular supervision, not only for my wellbeing but to ensure I can support clients in the most grounded, ethical, and present way possible. Looking after myself is an essential part of how I’m able to look after others.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  One of the most significant problems we face today is the growing disconnect between what human beings fundamentally need for emotional wellbeing and the pressures of the modern world. As Gabor Maté describes in The Myth of Normal, we’re living in a culture that often normalises stress, disconnection, and overstimulation — conditions that can quietly erode our sense of safety, belonging, and authenticity.
  
  Globalisation, social media, climate change, and economic uncertainty all contribute to this disconnect. We’re more digitally connected than ever, yet many people feel increasingly isolated or pressured to present a polished version of themselves online. Global and environmental crises add layers of anxiety and helplessness, while financial instability makes it harder for individuals and families to feel secure or plan for the future.
  
  These forces create a world where chronic stress becomes “normal,” and where people can lose touch with their own emotions, needs, and internal sense of worth. I believe the real challenge lies not just in these external pressures, but in how they shape our internal experience — often pushing us away from authenticity, self-compassion, and meaningful human connection.
  
  In my work, I aim to help clients reconnect with themselves, find resilience amid uncertainty, and cultivate a sense of groundedness and meaning in a world that can often feel overwhelming.