Karen Parsons

My name is Karen Parsons and I am an experienced a BACP Accredited Humanistic counsellor based in Arundel, West Sussex. I am committed to providing counselling and therapy in a safe, confidential and non-judgmental environment.

I have specialist training and experience of working with people with Bereavement.  If you have experienced the death of someone who was very important to you, you might be finding it very difficult to adjust to the immense changes happening in your life right now. Grief can shake everything up - your beliefs, your personality, and even your sense of reality.

I also provide animal assisted therapy, I have two dogs -  Jet and Ruby either are available please contact me for more details on how pets can support a client in a therapy room.

I also have much experience working with people coping with Anxiety, Stress, Depression, Eating Disorders, Relationship Difficulties and OCD.

I offer a place where you can explore what is really troubling you at your own pace. Sometimes you may feel unable to cope, overwhelmed, very low or that your problems are just not important.

I firmly believe that we all have the capacity for growth, healing and change within us my aim will be to help you find your own path. Together, I will support you as we make sense of your experience, thoughts and emotions, and gently explore different perspectives and possibilities.

I am able to offer 1:1 or group work with both individuals and couples on an open-ended basis or for an agreed time period, with the aim of enabling you to enhance your life and to live it more fully. I have specialist training in bereavement counselling, depression, anxiety and eating disorders and also work with older teenagers and adolescents.

I support and welcome university students, I am qualified and have the recognised qualifications required by universities including being BACP Accredited to work with student counsellors.  

I am also able to offer counselling supervision to other therapists who are welcome to contact me. 

My private practice is situated on the outskirts of Arundel and is within easy reach of road, bus and train networks. There is plenty of car parking and only a short walk from Arundel Station. I am situated within easy reach of Chichester, Littlehampton, Worthing, Slindon, Fontwell, Rustington and East Preston.

If you have experienced the death of someone who was very important to you, you might be finding it very difficult to adjust to the immense changes happening in your life right now. Grief can shake everything up - your beliefs, your personality, and even your sense of reality.

Bereavement is the time we spend adjusting to loss. There is no standard time limit and there is no right or wrong way to feel during the bereavement period -

Bereavement counselling is able to provide you with support during a very difficult times. Talking about the loss often allows a person to adjust to their new life with all its changes - good and bad. Keeping things bottled up or denying the sadness could prolong the pain. Any loss has to be acknowledged for us to move forward. Bereavement counselling tries to help clients find a place for their loss so they can carry on with life and eventually find acceptance.

Bereavement counselling is designed to help people cope more effectively with not only the death of a loved one but a significant loss in your life, losing your home, your job, divorce, loss of an unborn child or a pet.  Grief and the impact of the loss is unique for all of us, I specialise in supporting clients understand the impact grief has.

Grief, although normal, can manifest in a huge range of unexpected ways. Some people get angry, some people withdraw further into themselves and some people become completely numb. Sometimes, grief can turn into something more serious - like depression.

Bereavement counselling may be able to provide support during these very difficult times. Talking about the loss often allows a person to adjust to their new life with all its changes - good and bad. Keeping things bottled up or denying the sadness could prolong the pain. Any loss has to be acknowledged for us to move forward. Bereavement counselling tries to help clients find a place for their loss so they can carry on with life and eventually find acceptance.

With you I can help people cope more effectively with the death of a loved one. Specifically, bereavement counselling can:

·         offer an understanding of the mourning process

·         explore areas that could potentially prevent you from moving on

·         help resolve areas of conflict still remaining

·         help you to adjust to a new sense of self

·         address possible issues of depression or suicidal thoughts.

Animal Assisted Therapy

Having animals in therapy rooms is increasingly being used to assist people with a wide range of emotional and psychological disorders including depression, recovery from trauma, anxiety and neuroses.

The presence of an animal in the therapy room can make sessions more pleasurable and productive, and improve therapeutic outcomes. Clients experience calming effects, brightening of mood, increased self-esteem, stress reduction and increased motivation.

Jet or Ruby are also happy to help you, they will listen and not judge or tell you how you should be feeling.  They have often provided a level of comfort to many.  Animal assisted therapy has been proven to aid people as they learn to live without their loved one.  My two dogs Jet and Ruby understand how sadness can cause pain.  Either of the lovely girls can be available to support you at this sad time.  They both love joining in on a therapy session.

The session fees are:

£40 for Individual Assessment (30 Mins)

£45 for Individuals  - Face to Face/Online

£55 for Individuals who wish to Walk and Talk Therapy with either Ruby or Jet  (Up to 1hr 20 Mins)

£55 for Couples Assessment (30 Mins)

£65 for Couples      - Face to Face/Online

£55 Initial Assessment for Supervision - Face to Face/Online

£65 per person for Supervision - Face to Face/Online

Payable by cash,  cheque, bank transfer at the time of the session.

I have run my own private practice for a number of years and I am able to offer both daytime and evening sessions.

I care passionately about supporting and helping others, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to receive support, lower fees are available - please do contact me.

As a registered accredited member of the BACP I respect and adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework.

Accredited member of the National Counselling Society

I receive regular confidential clinical supervision.
I am in regular on-going professional supervision and personal development.

I have professional indemnity insurance and hold a up to date DBS.

My private practice is based in Arundel and easily accessible by road/bus or train.

There is free on street parking. I am able to accommodate wheelchair access.

Please call or email me for a chat to help you decide if working with me will suite your needs. If I am unable to answer please leave a message and I will get back to you at my earliest opportunity

I look forward to hearing from you.