Katie McGill Psychotherapy
Bramhall (Stockport) & online
About me
On paper, my first role in fashion buying felt like a dream job for my creative brain. I loved the fast pace and high pressure - it suited the driven part of me that thrived on being busy and I felt good when I was achieving things. But over time, I began to feel overwhelmed, unfulfilled, and really stuck (but I found that hard to admit).
The thing is, I was doing everything I thought I should be doing, but none of it made me happy. The more I progressed, the less I wanted to be there. I lost all sense of work-life balance, spending my weekends catching up on sleep and worrying about the week ahead. It was like I had no off-switch, feeling constantly "on" with no space to relax or have fun.
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After a lot of (over)thinking and feeling completely burnt out, I quit. And when I moved back up North, that's when I went to therapy for the first time.
My experience of therapy
If I'm honest, I went to therapy hoping it would fix my problems and help me to cope with my stress levels better. It didn't. There wasn't an overnight change, and life's pressures didn't just disappear. Instead, therapy gave me the space to explore why I felt the way I did.
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I began to notice familiar patterns in my personality... pushing myself to meet sky-high standards, always being the "yes" person when I really should have said no, and realising that keeping busy was often a way of avoiding emotions that felt difficult or uncomfortable.
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As I started to understand where those patterns came from and how they were shaping my life, things began to change. I realised I could still do well without putting so much pressure on myself. I could leave work on time, make space for friendships, say yes to spontaneous plans, and stop feeling like I always had to be achieving or doing more.
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Over time, life started to feel lighter and more balanced. I moved to Manchester, started a new job, enjoyed more spontaneous nights out with supportive friends, and gradually began to feel more settled and comfortable just being myself.
Becoming a psychotherapist
A few years later, I was still spending a lot of time dreading going to work. I felt fed up of complaining about it and knew I needed to make a change. I found myself drawn to psychotherapy training, partly because of my own experience in therapy and partly because I was really curious to understand myself and other people more deeply. For once, I didn't have a perfectly mapped-out plan. I just had a feeling that this was something I wanted to try out.
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During my training, I discovered a way of connecting with people that felt completely different from anything I had experienced in my previous career. I loved hearing people's stories, understanding what had shaped them, and seeing how powerful it could be to have the space to explore things that had felt difficult for a long time.
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Now, as a therapist, my feels meaningful, and I absolutely love what I do. I get to be curious, have honest conversations, and support people as they make sense of themselves and create a life that feels more like their own.
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If this sounds like the kind of support you're looking for, please get in touch via the button below. I'd love to hear a little about what brings you here and chat about how I can help.
Me outside of therapy...
You'll usually find me outdoors with my family, exploring the Lake District, planning a trip around a good coffee shop, or getting creative with drawing and painting.
I'm also a proud mum of two boys, which has given me personal insight into the pressures, challenges and joys of parenthood. I'm really passionate about supporting parents and carers through the highs and lows of raising a family, and I share psychoeducation, heaps of compassion and honest moments via my Instagram page:
Professional Information
Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). My practice is informed by its Ethical Framework and Professional Guidelines.
Four years advanced training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (South Manchester Centre for Psychotherapy).
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Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (South Manchester Centre for Psychotherapy).
Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling (South Manchester Centre for Psychotherapy).
Counselling online (Open University & BACP training).
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Introduction to perinatal mental illness, risk, care and treatment (The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust).
I regularly receive individual and group supervision and my own personal therapy.
I hold public, professional and liability insurance.​​