Kate Upshall Gestalt Psychotherapy

23/12/2025

07/12/2025

⚠️ We appreciate that this is a long post, but it may be helpful to somebody you know, so please save and share it if you can; it could save a life over the festivities. ⚠️

If you are struggling or feeling low, here’s a reminder of some important numbers that could help you:
Samaritans - Call: 116 123 - 24/7
Text Shout to 85258 - 24/7
CALM - Call: 0800 58 58 58 - web chat 5pm to midnight every day
PAPYRUS Hopeline247 - Call: 0800 068 4141 or text: 88247 - 24/7
Mind Infoline – Call: 0300 123 3393 - 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).
You can also call NHS 111 and select option 2, where you can access round-the-clock support from a mental health professional in your area, anytime you’re facing a mental health crisis.
Please note, this number is not for repeat prescriptions regarding mental health, you will need to contact your GP practice or prescriber for this.

If someone’s life is at immediate risk, for example, they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose - call 999 or go to A&E.
Again, please save and share; it could save a life. Thank you.💚

05/12/2025

Sometimes all the extra pressure at this time of year makes things feel even heavier, especially if you’re already having a tough time. We’re here if you need us. 116 123 📱

29/08/2025

17/04/2025

I currently have some limited space for individual adult therapy and clinical supervision, here in my lovely attic space in Todmorden, or online.

10/04/2025

I have a selection of fidget toys and other sensory items available, and I welcome you bringing whatever you need 😊

Therapy Should Feel Safe — Not Stressful
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If you’re neurodivergent, just getting through the door can be overwhelming. But therapy should work with your brain — not against it.
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Here’s your gentle reminder:
You’re allowed to bring what you need to feel safe and regulated.
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Some people bring fidget toys or sensory items. Others bring a notebook to write things down or draw. You might want noise-cancelling headphones before or after your session, or a written list of things you want to talk about. Some people bring a support person to their first appointment, or something comforting like a blanket, stim toy or water bottle.
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And most importantly:
You’re allowed to tell your therapist what works for you.
Need time to process? Prefer fewer questions? Want a visual outline of the session? Say so.
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At Unmasked, we encourage open conversations about comfort and accessibility — because you deserve to feel safe enough to be your full self.
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What have you brought to therapy that helped you feel grounded or heard? Let us know in the comments.
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❤️

15/02/2025

I'm very proud to receive my certificate for the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy Supervision from Relational Change

16/12/2024

ℹ️🌿 NUMBING OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS |

The holidays have a way of bringing angst and sorrow to the surface. The holidays put us back in the past with all of the abusive demands and expectations.

One way survivors of childhood trauma try to cope is by using outside sources to soothe all those raw emotions, in effect, numbing them out. We use drugs, alcohol, food, busyness, work, and a thousand other things to keep us from feeling. In the end, those things are only a temporary fix and are not only emotionally dangerous but can also be physically dangerous.

Eventually, numbing will not work, and if you are engaged in healing, addictions and numbing habits only get in the way. Instead of numbing out this holiday season, try to put in protective boundaries. Don’t participate in the usual crazy. Know going in that your family is not going to change, but you have the power to make a different choice.

Read the Full Article: https://cptsdfoundation.org/2024/12/16/numbing-out-for-the-holidays/

12/12/2024

ℹ️🌿 HERE COME THE HOLIDAYS |

Wait a minute, weren’t Thanksgiving and Christmas just last week? Here they come again. Celebration doesn’t mix well with trauma. Everyone talks about the busyness of the season as a source of stress, but for survivors of childhood trauma, the struggle with the holidays has much deeper implications.

Memories from the past come to the surface. Emotional damage and conditioning push our default button. While everyone else is drinking hot cocoa and eating turkey, we are filled with despair and hopelessness.

The loneliness of our childhood is only exacerbated by all the togetherness. If we are still in contact with our family, there is the additional stress of figuring out how to deal with them without going into a major depression. If we have gone no contact, we must deal with the guilt and obligation made worse by holiday expectations.

Read the Full Article: https://cptsdfoundation.org/2024/12/11/here-come-the-holidays/



📷: beatanxiety.me

23/11/2024

Today is International Survivors of Su***de Loss Day, an opportunity for people bereaved by su***de to come together, connect and share hope.

If you have lost someone or been affected by a su***de death, you can access free peer support from Leeds Mind Su***de Bereavement Services. The service provides compassionate support for anyone impacted by su***de, delivered by staff who understand because they’ve been there.

The service is free and available to anyone living in Calderdale aged 18 and over, with both virtual and in-person options 👉 https://www.leedsmind.org.uk/su***de-bereavement-services-west-yorkshire/