In Memoriam: Kate Squires 1949-2010
Kate died on Sunday 17th January 2010
Gone but not forgotten
She holds a place in our hearts for the support, love, friendship and care she gave.
It was Kate's wish that donations be made to Northorpe Hall Trust which is an independent charity improving the quality of life and emotional well-being of children, young people and their families. Established in 1963, it continues to be a vital and developing organisation.
For all those that have donated, thank you.
There is a special page in the journal section of the website giving you the opportunity to share your reflections and send on your regards to the family.
Founder of Connecting Space
“Her vision for this site was for it to become a therapeutic community (OTC) — a space where more difficult subjects can be addressed and discussed. Individuals connecting together through specific themes or interests, such as poetry, narratives, art.”
Kate retired from her work as a psychotherapist in April 2009, and passed away on 17 January 2010. Her life was deepened and enhanced through the seventeen years she spent in this field, and she was sad to leave the many people with whom she had contact. She hoped those who visit Connecting Space would find the right therapist, supervisor or the space to connect through the journals.
Kate was glad to be leaving Connecting Space website in the capable hands of her highly valued colleague and friend Jill Dodsworth.
Kate’s identity over the years evolved to calling herself a “relational therapist”. Relationship is the essence of life. Relational therapy is about understanding “Who I Am in relationship to Who You Are”.
Much of Kate’s training was in the Creative Therapies, which included Gestalt, Drama therapy and Psychodrama. Working in this way opens space to move, grow and change. When looking for a counsellor, psychotherapist or supervisor, value your instincts in relationship with that person.
Experience
Qualifications
- M.A. Counselling Studies, dip.PC, Cert.Ed.
- Post.Grad. in Adults Abused in Childhood
- Cert Psychotherapy in Dissociative Disorders
- NSP in Psychodrama Cert.
- Cert.NT. Drama Therapy
- Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) from 1997 - January 2009
- United Kingdom Registered Independent Counsellor (UKRC) from 1997 - January 2009
From 1992 to 1998 Kate worked as a counsellor at a GP surgery, as a staff counsellor at large city hospital and for a child and family project. She encountered many areas of need: Loss, depression, bullying, anxiety / panic attacks, religious / spiritual struggles, family conflict and abandonment, broken relationships and loneliness. People came with low self-esteem, traumatic experiences recent and in the past, questions about sexuality, sexual orientation, eating disorders, obsessional behaviour caused by entrapping thoughts and emotions.
Practice
From 1998 to January 2009 Kate worked as an independent practitioner continuing to develop a holistic and creative approach, which supports a person in their search for resolution of inner conflict. The aim was to improve a person’s quality of life.
Together with a colleague, Jill, they began a professional partnership called Creative Space offering workshops for abuse survivors, students in counsellor training, couples and individuals.
Kate increased her theoretical study into DID (dissociative identity disorder) and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Family dysfunction and childhood trauma cause conflicts later on in life, particularly within intimate relationships.
Training in dramatherapy and psychodrama provided Kate with creative techniques which are very effective tools in resolving this mind / body / spiritual damage.