Dr Kathryn (Kat) Cox

Kathryn is a UK-trained Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience spanning all age groups. She has practiced in diverse settings, from GP surgeries to emergency departments, community centres to psychiatric hospitals, and from people’s homes to primary and secondary schools, both in the UK and in Singapore. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kathryn was practising as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in the UK public sector, enhancing her strong foundation in trauma-informed care, multidisciplinary working, and culturally responsive practice.

After experiencing her own health challenges, it became especially important to Kathryn to help those living with illness to live a meaningful and fulfilling life alongside it. Kathryn was appointed to an internationally renowned Cancer Centre within a major London Hospital. There, she joined a team of highly specialist clinicians supporting teenagers and young adults living with cancer or benign brain tumour.

Now, Kathryn works with children and families facing a wide range of challenges, as well as with people of all ages living with health conditions. Alongside her clinical work, Kathryn contributes to the field through academic and supervisory roles. She served as a Guest Lecturer and Marker on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Surrey where she also published research. She supervises colleagues in the psychological professions, and delivers training and consultation to colleagues in other professions, including Doctors, Nurses, Dieticians, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Teachers.

Kathryn provides assessments and evidence-based therapies for children and teenagers experiencing difficulties such as social anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, health anxiety, OCD, and depression. Kathryn also works with children and teenagers who do not have a diagnosis, but are facing significant challenges; these may include low self-confidence, problems with friendships, transitions (such as to a new school or country), feeling overwhelmed by worries, or feeling like they don’t ’fit in’. Kathryn has extensive experience supporting individuals who are neurodivergent (including features of ASD and ADHD), as well as their families.

Warm and empathic, Kathryn believes in being herself in her work, which involves creativity and a bit of humour! Kathryn’s work is grounded in a respect for children’s emotional worlds, recognising the strength it takes to open up. Her focus is not on what is ‘wrong’ with a child, or their family, but on what has happened to them. Believing that children can better overcome challenges with the help of people around them, Kathryn works as a team with each child and their support system.

Whilst based in a globally renowned London Hospital, Kathryn practiced within an innovative team of clinicians, established to provide holistic support to 16-25 year-olds living with cancer or benign brain tumour. Kathryn’s role in this unique team focused on supporting teenagers and young adults with the psychological impact of their diagnosis and treatment. This involved helping young people to process losses and changes which have occurred as a result of illness, psychologically prepare for and recover from treatment, and support them to live a values-based life alongside illness.

Now practising in Singapore, Kathryn works together with people of all ages who are living with chronic health conditions, injury, or unexplained symptoms. She supports those whose health is impacting areas such as their mood, self-confidence, energy levels, education or career, relationships, fertility, body image, and hopes for the future.

In her Health Psychology work Kathryn adopts a strengths-based, integrative approach, tailoring interventions to each person’s unique context. Her work draws on evidence-based models such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Narrative Therapy, including the Beads of Life approach, in which she trained under University College London Hospitals (UCLH).

Known to us at TOC as ‘Kat’, her work with children predates her training as a Psychologist – in an earlier chapter of her life, Kat helped children build their confidence and self-expression when teaching singing, leading dance classes, and directing school musicals. Now, Kat is always on the look out for activities which combine nature, exercise and the outdoors. Since moving from the UK to Southeast Asia, Kat has been exploring the region’s rich cultural and culinary landscape. She has been especially enjoying the food scene here in Singapore, and beyond!