Hello, my name is Katharine Sequoia Jayne McBeath. My middle name, Sequoia, was lovingly given to me by my mother, who planted a Sequoia tree in our back garden when I was a child, a symbol of growth, resilience, and connection to nature, values I hold close in my work.
I am a Qualified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Psychological DBT Therapist, Registered Adult Nurse, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and qualified Yoga Teacher. I currently work for the NHS and in private practice.
My Journey to Somatic Therapy
The path to Somatic Therapy has been deeply personal. While nursing offered me opportunities to care for others, it never felt like my true calling. After the sudden loss of my father, I was inspired to explore new directions that aligned more closely with my natural empathy and passion for supporting others holistically.
From a young age, I’ve been attuned to the emotions and struggles of those around me. This deep sensitivity made me the person others leaned on, yet I often felt unseen myself. It wasn’t until my twenties that I began to rediscover my own resilience and find joy through a close circle of friends, yoga, and personal growth.
For over eight years, I struggled with body shame, low self-esteem, and cycles of disordered eating, swinging between restriction, bingeing and purging. These patterns left me feeling deeply disconnected from my body and sense of self. Nourishment and food, once sources of stress and confusion, are now areas I continue to explore and heal through the lens of somatic therapy. This work has helped me gently trace the roots of these struggles, held as imprints within the body, and begin to build a more compassionate relationship with myself.
I’ve also experienced the long-term impact of severe mental illness within my own family. A close family member was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when I was a baby, an experience that shaped me deeply and gave me early insight into how trauma affects not only the individual but the entire family system. These personal experiences continue to inform and enrich the work I do today.
As I pursued a career beyond nursing, I explored counseling but didn’t feel it fully resonated. At the same time, my commitment to yoga deepened, and I noticed how mind-body practices benefited clients who struggled to articulate their trauma. This insight led me to complete my Yoga Teacher Training in India, which became a transformative milestone in my life.
Discovering Somatic Experiencing
The turning point came when I discovered Somatic Experiencing, a mind-body therapy designed to help people process trauma and regulate their nervous system. I was immediately drawn to its holistic approach and the way it integrates the body and mind in healing. After attending an introductory workshop, I knew this was the next step in my journey.
Now, as a Qualified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) based in Hemel Hempstead, I am passionate about helping clients reconnect with their bodies, release stored trauma, and build resilience. My work combines somatic therapy, cognitive behavioural techniques, clinical hypnotherapy, and yoga, offering a unique and compassionate approach to healing. This is underpinned by my nursing profession, holding in depth physical health knowledge at the forefront of my care.
How I Can Help
If you’re in Hemel Hempstead or the surrounding areas and are seeking support through Somatic Therapy or Somatic Experiencing, I’d love to work with you. Whether you’re dealing with trauma, stress, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, my goal is to provide a safe, nurturing space for healing and growth.
Sequoia Mind and Body 