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Leona Therapy & Counselling

Healing with the heart of a lioness

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Trauma-informed, disability affirming therapy and counselling in Harrogate and surrounding areas and online UK-wide

Reclaim your roar

As a Leo, I have always been drawn to the beauty and majesty of the lion—the way a lion commands the space with an undeniable presence. To me, the lioness represents not just strength and courage, but also a deep sense of self-assurance. She owns her space unapologetically, fully aware of who she is, understanding that each scar tells a story of resilience and survival. In therapy and counselling, this powerful symbolism speaks to the heart of our journey together —learning to embrace your true self, embracing your potential, acknowledging both your strengths and your vulnerabilities, empowered to move forward with clarity and confidence towards self-acceptance, self-compassion and emotional healing. Just as the lioness stands tall, confident in her place in the world, you too are invited to step into your own power, knowing that your unique path and past are what make you beautifully whole.

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Welcome

Leona Therapy offers person-centred, trauma-informed counselling in a safe and supportive space where you can feel heard, understood, and accepted. Based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, I work in-person and also offer online counselling for those who prefer the flexibility of meeting from home.


My approach is compassion focused and disability-affirming, supporting adults and young people (aged 13+) experiencing emotional difficulties, chronic pain, stress, abuse, and trauma. Together, we explore your experiences at a pace that feels right for you, helping you process what’s happened, reconnect with yourself, and regain balance. Using approaches such as narrative therapy, we work together to explore your story, make sense of challenging moments, and build greater calm, confidence, and clarity in your everyday life.


Whether you’re working through trauma, adjusting to life transitions, or simply need a safe, non-judgemental space to reflect, I’m here to offer acceptance, honesty, insight and understanding, and steady support as you move forward.

Reclaim your voice. I’m listening.

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Therapy with me

At the heart of my work is creating a safe compassionate space where together we can explore emotional difficulties and discover a sense of authenticity and control in your life. My approach is rooted in the belief that healing from what’s happened to you begins when you feel truly seen, heard and understood. I gently support you in sharing untold, perhaps silenced, chapters of your life story in a way that helps you to make sense of how they continue to shape your present. I draw on the courage and strength of a lion as symbolic in guiding your discovery of the lion energy within you to heal. I am disability aware, neurodiverse aware and my special interests are healing from trauma and abuse, institutional abuse, chronic pain, disability, family estrangement, domestic abuse and family court.

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Speak in Confidence

Counselling takes place in a safe space, where you can meet with someone who will listen with sensitivity and empathy - and without judgement. In the therapy space thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely and in confidence.

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A problem shared...

Trouble with a relationship; anxiety or panic attacks; mood swings or depression - many people face difficulties in their everyday lives that can be hard to get on top of. Counselling gives us a set of tools we can use to help gain a better understanding of what’s causing these problems - and how you can move towards managing or resolving them.

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Make better, healthier new choices

Working together I can help you gain greater insight into the difficulties you are facing, help you understand why you act or react to them the way you do, and see how you can start to make better, heathier choices moving forward.

Testimonials

“Kate is a wonderful counsellor whose warmth and insight has helped me truly understand myself and my relationships. I’ve learned to let go of the past and unmasked the real me. Through her support, I’ve embraced self-acceptance, and learned to love who I am. My self-worth has grown, and I am now blossoming and unapologetically me.”

“I’ve made real steps toward a more positive life. I’m learning to be kinder to myself with more self-compassion and to deal with life’s challenges with more balance. With her support, I’ve been able to share a chapter of my life, face elements of past trauma and find more acceptance. I’ve come to terms with some really difficult emotions and experiences. ”

“Kate really listened and understood me. She was very supportive and helped me explore a number of topics. I understand myself significantly better, have developed greater self-acceptance and have overcome panic and phobia, developing a set of skills and learning methods to live with my anxiety. I have learned how to live a more fulfilling version of my life and as a result feel more positive. ”

“Kate made me feel really comfortable and allowed me to open up at my own pace. Through counselling, I’ve gained a much better understanding of mental health and neurodiversity, especially in the context of relationships. My relationships with others have really improved, and I’ve learned to understand both my own reactions and why people respond differently in certain situation”

“Kate has such a calm, kind, and understanding way about her that made it easy for me to open up and begin to accept myself. She gently and consistently reflected my strengths back to me so I am more able to recognise them myself. I’ve learned to challenge negative thinking and regain calm in my life. Kate’s gentle, compassionate approach showed me how to do the same with myself, she guided me to build my own “inner therapist” to counter my inner critic and be kinder to myself.”

What issues can counselling help with?

People come to me initially with issues such as low mood, self-esteem, confidence, loneliness, friendships & relationships, stress, panic, sleep issues, anger, but often behind these is past or more recent abuse, trauma, bullying and loss. Both lived and professional experience has given me a deeper insight and understanding into the following specialisms:

Emotional neglect

Women’s reproductive health – peri/menopause, PMDD, miscarriage

Single parenting

Domestic abuse & coercive control

Family Court

Mother wound

Feeling dismissed by health professionals

Disability

Chronic pain

Invisible illness

ADHD

Autism

Family estrangement

Institutional abuse & “boarding school syndrome”

BACP Registered Counsellor in Harrogate, North Yorkshire

A little about me – Kate

Books, theatre and film bring me a lot of joy. I love stories, whether a great book, a trip to the theatre or a cosy film night. These things bring me a lot of joy. My to-be-read bookshelf is proof that I can’t resist a good bookshop browse. Everywhere in life are stories. I like to think of it full of curiosity at the possibilities of stories yet to be experienced just like in counselling where personal stories unfold at their own pace. I believe in the power of words to transform, the power of telling our stories, having our voices heard. I believe that our stories matter.

I treasure balancing the noise of busy modern life with quiet and calm. I bring that same sense of warmth, calm, down to earth and kindness and gentle acceptance, realness into my counselling work – creating a space where people can slow down, feel heard, reflect and explore what’s happening or happened in their lives and simply be themselves.

Whether you’re navigating overwhelm, anxiety, stress, burnout, or looking to reconnect with yourself, I aim to make therapy a place where you can breathe, reflect, and find your own way forward. I believe therapy can help you reconnect with who you are and find your own way forward. I offer gentle, supportive therapy to help you find balance, understanding, and a sense of ease.

Kate Scott, counsellor in Harrogate

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.


You can also call me on 0779 854 6803 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.

All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between counselling and therapy?

Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions. Over a certain number of weeks the understanding of the problem improves and away forward becomes clear. Therapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a long-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.

Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling works well as an ongoing, longer-term option - or therapy can manage to resolve an issue in just a few sessions.

How long will I need to have counselling?

How long a period of counselling lasts will vary from person to person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. For some people a couple of sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach.

Before we begin any work we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number review our progress. As long as we both agree further therapy will be of benefit to you, sessions can continue.

How long will I have to wait for an appointment?

My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availabity. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availabity of that free ‘slot’.

Will everything I say be kept confidential?

Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.


Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, and there the law requires that I notify an authority; in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.

Can I bring a friend or relative with me?

Usually I am asked this question by people who are nervous about entering into counselling, or when they are looking for support in coming to see a therapist. This anxiety is understandable, but a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel free to talk about any issues you feel are important to you. Having someone else with you who can be connected those issues makes this opening-up more difficult, so for this reason I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family.

My location

Sessions can be in person in Harrogate or by arrangement at a location in North Leeds, or online or telephone. Sessions can be a blended mix of in person and online to offer flexibility for those with chronic health conditions.

Fees & availability

Sessions are flexible in duration, recognising that when healing from trauma and abuse the standard offered of 50 minutes may not be long enough. So as well as offering 50 minutes at £50 per session, I also offer 65 minutes at £65 per session. I also provide a limited number of spaces for students or those on low income.

Sessions require payment for a cancellation with less than 24 hours’ notice for a cancellation except in exceptional circumstances. Payments are made via a banking payment link emailed to you before a session or cash. Prepayment of session blocks is available.

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