Karen Prouton
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
A very warm welcome to you.
Are you experiencing difficulty at the moment? Seeking counselling support is a really positive step in helping understand and manage whatever is affecting you.
I am a qualified and registered counsellor offering a service within the Eastleigh and surrounding areas. I specialise in supporting autistic people and those who are believe they, or someone close to them, may be autistic. I work using a Humanistic Gestalt approach and integrate other approaches such as CBT and mindfulness based on your own individual needs. I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and abide by their code of ethics.
People seek counselling support for many different reasons. Life can sometimes feel ever changing and challenges can arise at any moment. At other times we may feel ‘stuck’, and not able to move forward as we might wish.
Perhaps life has presented you with a particular issue or challenge. Or you may be experiencing new or familiar feelings such as anxiety, low mood, anger or stress and you want to understand how you can make changes to lead a happier life. Whatever your reason, you have made an important step forward by exploring counselling options.
How I can help you
My approach has been described as sensitive, warm and accepting. I offer you a safe and confidential time to be seen, heard and understood. Together we will work to find your answers; I believe each one of us has the potential to develop and move forward, and ultimately overcome our difficulties.
I am interested in helping you develop an awareness of your whole experience. When you have this insight you are better able to understand your patterns of relating to others and the world around you, and how challenging feelings may have arisen. Some patterns may be helpful and some may be preventing you from leading a satisfying life. From this new perspective, you are better able to discover new opportunities and make positive choices and changes, resulting in greater fulfilment, wellbeing and growth.
What I offer
Whether this is the first time you have sought counselling, or you have previous experience, it is important for you to find a counsellor who you feel comfortable with and able to talk to. I offer a free 30-minute assessment session so we can meet to discuss how I may be able to support you, and you can ask any questions you may have.
I provide short and long-term individual counselling for adults, and young people. This includes working with people with autistic spectrum conditions (including Asperger syndrome), using specialist knowledge and skills acquired throughout my role as a senior autism assessor within the NHS.
I run my practice from my quiet and comfortable room at Wessex House in Eastleigh. There is car parking nearby and it is easily accessible by bus and train from the surrounding areas. It has full disabled access.
Please do contact me if you would like to arrange a 30 minute assessment session, or if you would just like to talk about how counselling could help you. I am happy to hear any questions you may have.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have previously provided counselling to adults and young people within a busy and diverse further education establishment in Hampshire. I now work solely in private practice.
My qualifications include:
Masters degree (Distinction) Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice - Bath Spa University
Diploma Humanistic and Gestalt Counselling (Distinction) – Buckingham New University
Teacher Training Mindfulness Based Interventions – University of BangorBSc (Hons)
BSc (Hons; First Class) Occupational Therapy - University of Southampton
BA (Hons) Cognitive Psychology – University of Sussex
Additional training:
Rewind Technique for trauma and phobias
Sensory Processing Disorders
Safeguarding
Suicide and self harm
Mindfulness based interventions in counselling
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Attachment patterns and disorders
Autism Spectrum Condition
Counselling for couples
I am greatly committed to ongoing professional development and regularly update my knowledge on a range of issues and approaches through courses, workshops and academic journals.
My background
My background is in the NHS, having worked as a clinician in a multi-disciplinary learning disabilities team for over 20 years and Senior Practitioner with the Southampton Autism Assessment Service. I have also worked as a mindfulness teacher and taught mindfulness courses for NHS service users and staff, and the general public.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Autism Spectrum Conditions
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Learning Disabilities
- Learning Difficulties
I am trained in the Rewind Technique which has proven benefits for people experiencing anxiety, phobia and trauma.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer an initial 30 minute session to discuss how I can help which is free of charge.
£50 for a 50 minute session
I also hold some concessionary places for those unable to manage the standard fees. Please do contact me to discuss if this is the case.
When I work
I offer appointments during weekdays and evenings. Please contact me for availability.
Further information
I have full indemnity insurance for my practice.
I am fully DRB checked.
I follows safeguarding guidelines and have regular professional supervision to ensure my practice is safe, ethical and of the highest quality.
