Karen Ratcliffe
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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
Welcome
Hello, I'm Karen. I'm a qualified and experienced counsellor and supervisor, offering a safe, supportive and reflective space to help you to explore your thoughts, feelings and patterns of behaviour, make sense of whatever you may be struggling with, and support you to find a way forward.
How I work
I work integratively, informed by different counselling models and methods, including Person-Centred and Humanistic theories, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-based approaches and creative ways of working. Rather than adopting a “one size fits all” approach, I tailor my work to the individual needs of each client. In particular, my practise is trauma-informed, ie coming from a perspective of 'What's happened to you?', rather than 'What's wrong with you?'
I am passionate about my work ― as a counsellor, helping clients to access inner resources and find a way through difficulties, and as a supervisor, helping both qualified and trainee counsellors to grow and develop as therapists.
Training, qualifications & experience
My Experience
I have extensive counselling experience, including working in the NHS as a GP practice counsellor, providing motivational enhancement therapy in an addiction recovery centre and providing bereavement support with Cruse. I also spent five years managing and developing support programmes for adult and young carers, including a counselling service offering student placements. Alongside my private practice I currently work as a staff counsellor at the University of Bristol.
Qualifications
- MA in Consultative Supervision - University of South Wales
- BSc (Hons) in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Approaches - University of Derby
- Foundation Degree in Counselling - Bath Spa University
- Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling - CPCAB
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - CPCAB
- Certificate in Trauma-Focused Therapy - The Link Centre/Manchester Psychotherapy Foundation
- Advanced Certificate in Understanding & Applying Parts Theories - Temenos Education
- Level 3 Award in Education & Training - Bridgwater & Taunton College
- Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling
- Extended Certificate in Online & Telephone Supervision
- Awareness in Bereavement Care - CRUSE
- BACP Certificate of Accreditation
Continuing Professional Development
I attend regular training to keep my skills and knowledge up to date and to further my personal and professional development. Workshops and courses have included:
- Infertility Counselling (BICA Foundation Course)
- Counselling children and young people
- Safeguarding & child protection
- Pregnancy & infant loss and bereavement
- Mindfulness & Compassion-Focused Therapy
- Self-injury
- Domestic abuse
- Eating disorders & body image
- Creative counselling & sand tray
Supervision experience
Please view my supervision profile
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Introductory call
20 minute introductory (telephone or video) call – free
This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about me and the way I work and for us to start to explore what brings you to counselling and how I might be able to help. This will help us to decide if we feel like the right fit to work together.
Counselling
60 minute individual counselling session - £50
Supervision
60 minute individual supervision session - £50 (£70 for 90 minutes)
Concessions
A small number of concessionary places are available for those on low income and for counselling students – please ask me for details.
When I work
Please note I am currently unable to offer evening or weekend appointments
Further information
I am an Accredited member of the BACP and work within the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. I am committed to safeguarding and equality and diversity, attending regular training to keep my knowledge updated, and I hold a current DBS.
I work from a quiet, comfortable room in Winscombe, North Somerset, with parking and a bus stop close by. (NB my practice room is up a short flight of stairs)
