​“Sometimes the most powerful step is simply being heard without judgment.”

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I’m Kim Russell, an Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist with a Master’s degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and a genuine passion for helping people feel understood, supported, and less alone in what they’re facing.

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My path into this work has been shaped by both life and professional experience. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in demanding professional settings where I witnessed the quieter impact of emotional strain — including stress, burnout, and disconnection — and how deeply people long to feel seen and heard. Over time, I felt drawn to creating spaces where experiences can be explored safely and honestly, at an individual pace.

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Before retraining as a psychotherapist, I spent over 20 years working as a dentist in NHS and private dental practice. Stepping away from clinical work following injury was a significant personal and professional transition, involving burnout, shifts in identity, and uncertainty about what came next, alongside family life with two young children. This lived experience continues to shape my sensitivity to the pressures that can exist within demanding professional roles, and informs the way I sit alongside clients who are navigating stress, change, or big questions about their working lives.

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​Alongside my professional training, my own experience of severe, persistent pain has deepened my understanding of how physical conditions can affect emotional wellbeing, identity and day-to-day life.

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I went on to train as a counsellor and psychotherapist, grounding my work in person-centred values while also integrating a range of therapeutic approaches, including CBT, Psychodynamic theory, Transactional Analysis, Attachment theory, and Solution-focused work. What brings this together is the therapeutic relationship — I believe that meaningful change happens when you feel genuinely met by another human being.

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“Therapy should adapt to you — not the other way around.”

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As a trained creative counsellor, I also offer alternative ways of working beyond traditional talking therapy. That might mean using drawing, metaphor, imagery, poetry, music, or breathwork — whatever helps you express what’s going on inside in a way that feels natural and intuitive. You don’t have to be “creative” to benefit; you just need to be open to exploring what works for you.

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My Master’s research explored how creative methods can be particularly effective in online therapy — especially for clients who are neurodivergent, anxious, or juggling work, family, and emotional demands. Since then, I’ve continued to see how powerful these tools can be in helping people find clarity and connection.

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“There’s no one ‘right’ way to explore your story — only your way.”

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A core part of my work involves supporting people as they navigate their journeys of understanding their own neurodivergence — whether newly diagnosed, self-identifying, or still exploring. I offer a space that is affirming, collaborative, and free of expectation. For many clients, creative approaches have opened up new ways to access and express their experiences that feel less pressured and more empowering.

 

Over the years, I’ve worked in a range of settings — including secondary schools as a school-based counsellor, in social prescribing services, and now in my own established private practice. I offer both online and in-person therapy from Leeds, West Yorkshire, with flexibility to meet your needs.

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Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, curious, or ready for change, I’m here to walk alongside you — with warmth, honesty, and care.

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Qualifications and Training

 

I am a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist. I am registered with the BACP and work in line their professional and ethical guidelines. I am committed to ongoing professional development and reflective practice to ensure I offer safe and effective therapy.

 

MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy| Leeds Beckett University

PG Dip Counselling & Psychotherapy | Leeds Beckett University

Creative Counselling Interventions CPCAB

Facilitating Therapeutic Groups CPCAB

Foundation Year Transactional Analysis 

Intro to CBT

TA 101

Solution Focused Therapy | Relate

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Professional Registrations

 

BACP Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist   Membership number 410345

Professional Member of Creative Counsellor Organisation

ICO registered

Insurance with Holistic Insurance Services