Meet Kate, our Director
Kate has Autism that went undiagnosed for most of her life. She knows first-hand what it feels like to have your dreams crushed by disability. Kate’s story involves a vicious cycle of trauma, fuelled by drug addiction.
Today, Kate helps others heal from trauma so they, too, can find their purpose and create the life they deserve.
A Tough Beginning.
There was only one thing Kate ever wanted to do with her life, and that was to be a Psychologist. It was her life purpose. Her calling. Her North Star.
But throughout her teenage years and into early adulthood, Kate experienced impulsivity issues – a core feature of Autism – that interfered with her ability to study psychology. Kate dropped out of Uni, and it sent her spiralling.
At the time, nobody knew Kate had Autism.
Kate’s family tried to help by suggesting alternative careers, but this left her feeling misunderstood. Psychology was the only thing she ever wanted to do.
To deal with the pain, Kate turned to drugs and went completely off the rails. She got in with the wrong crowd and soon became an addict. In true Kate style, she was all in.
But Kate’s “drug friends” weren’t good friends, and Kate soon found herself a victim of mistreatment. Kate’s Autism made her an easy target for manipulation and coercion, as she had difficulty recognising inappropriate and untrustworthy behaviours.
Kate eventually recovered from her addiction, but the effects of trauma remained. Kate had difficulty speaking coherently due to anxiety, impacting her ability to work and study. She continued to experience a pattern of unhealthy and unsafe relationships.
Kate hit rock bottom in her thirties. Depressed and socially isolated, Kate felt like she had lost herself and the few friendships that remained in her life lacked the intimacy and authenticity she craved.
Seeking Help.
Over the years, Kate saw a range of Psychologists, Psychiatrists, doctors, alternative medicine practitioners, and hypnotists. Each one claimed they had a clear answer for Kate’s challenges, which were repeatedly inaccurately attributed to other conditions. Consequently, nothing worked to fix Kate’s problems because the root cause hadn’t been accurately identified.
The misdiagnoses left Kate feeling completely disillusioned. Either she was too complex, or therapy just didn’t work.
Then one day Kate met a Psychologist who took the time to really understand her. She was the only therapist Kate had ever connected with. For once in her life, Kate trusted someone completely and felt safe to share openly.
Kate was diagnosed with Autism at 39 years old, a process that brought clarity and understanding to her strengths and difficulties.
Finally, Seeing Results!
With the help of her Psychologist, Kate learnt to develop a healthy appreciation for herself as a foundation for loving others. This involved learning to recognise uncomfortable feelings in herself, and acting accordingly by expressing her needs, saying ‘no’, and setting limits. Through this work, Kate cultivated self-love which in turn enabled her to develop empathy for other people’s struggles. Today, Kate is socially connected and feels valued and cared for by her family and friends.
During therapy Kate also worked on developing leadership skills to help land her dream job. She developed emotional intelligence – the ability to understand and manage her own emotions and those of others. This helps Kate regulate her emotions and remain calm in stressful situations, as well as show respect for other people’s ideas and feelings.
Another important skill Kate learnt was the ability to think critically. Rather than taking what others say at face value, Kate has developed the ability to engage with ideas, consider different perspectives, and form her own opinions and judgements. This allows her to contribute meaningfully to discussions and negotiations, make informed decisions, and come up with innovative solutions to problems.
As a result of therapy, Kate speaks clearly and confidently, using appropriate non-verbal communication like eye contact, body language and good posture. She now enjoys small talk (a bit too much!) and relishes the opportunity to network and build relationships.
Speed Bumps, Not Road Blocks.
Kate’s therapy journey wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns.
At times, Kate had to dig deep. There were times she desperately wanted to give up. Times she felt so depleted of energy that she wasn’t sure if she could continue, even if she wanted to. Times unhelpful thoughts got in the way.
But with each hurdle, Kate gently reminded herself to embrace hope, trust the process, and keep moving towards her goals.
Helping Others.
Kate’s own journey has inspired her to help others with disabilities create the life they deserve. She founded Blume Therapy to support people to heal from trauma, so they too can find their purpose.
Blume provides psychological assessment and therapy, with a focus on rigour. Our assessments are thorough and accurate. Our therapy is backed by research and helps you kick your goals. And best of all, our therapists will make you feel seen and heard.
This is Kate’s dog, Tofu. Also a great listener.