Karen Alford
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
This may be a time in your life when you feel overwhelming anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, depression or sadness, which might be evoked from current or past experiences. You may be experiencing difficulties in a relationship. This could feel like a very lonely place where you feel misunderstood. I believe that recognising you are finding things difficult and asking for help may be your first step towards finding ways of changing things for the better.
Sometimes you may feel stuck or trapped in your situation and need some direction to look at finding some understanding or resolution. I work to support and accompany you in this, at a pace you feel comfortable with.
I am a qualified Integrative counsellor. This allows me to bring together a variety of therapeutic approaches, in order to assist you in working towards a positive outcome. The integrative approach takes the view that each person is unique.
Throughout my training I was required to have my own personal therapy. I truly believe that this is essential to become a safe and effective therapist. My own experiences and healing have allowed me to value the importance of counselling. I believe that having the space to talk through your issues, to feel accepted and not judged can be invaluable. The relationship between counsellor and client is central to therapy.
I have considered experience in working with people experiencing anxiety and depression, relationship difficulties, eating disorders, trauma, low self esteem, self harm and substance misuse.
In addition to my individual practice I also provide support with employee assisted programmes on a time limited basis.
I can offer you a relaxed, confidential and safe place to discuss your difficulties. I aspire to support clients to gain some clarity on the issues which are causing them concern and to work collaboratively towards healing from past experiences, learning new coping strategies and changing the way they think and the views they hold.
You are welcome to contact me to make any enquiry without obligation.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
Person centred listening skills and theory.
Post graduate Certificate Person Centred Counselling, UEA.
HE Diploma Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, Middlesex University.
Certificate in Couples Counselling.
Experience
As well as my private practice, I have worked for several charities as a counsellor. These include Sue Lambert Trust, Norfolk Recovery partnership and St Barnabas Counselling Centre. These have all required mandatory supervision and extensive training.
I also spent a year working for the Matthew Project which was a very rewarding experience.
I have successfully completed a variety of additional training courses, including substance misuse and recovery, compassion focussed therapy, disorganised sleep, work, relationship counselling, anger management, bereavement, attachment theory, eating disorders, safeguarding and self-harm.
As a previous NSFT volunteer and employee I value the adherence to client confidentiality.
As a registered member of the BACP, I am required to attend regular supervision and to record my continued professional learning. I feel this is of immense value to my ongoing work with clients.
I have a current DBS document.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Additional information
My fees are £50 per session with effect from 11th January 2024. All sessions are for 1 hour.
For couples/relationship counselling, the fees are £62 for a session of 1 hour.
I value and respect the importance of finding the right counsellor for you and am happy to answer any questions you may have.
When I work
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10am until 5pm most weekdays. Evening appointments available.
