Charis Kaps

Hi, my name is Charis.

I offer one-to-one sessions in my warm and welcoming office in the centre of Slaithwaite and also outdoor sessions in the surrounding area. 

Equality and compassion form the basis of my personal and counselling philosophy. I believe that we all have the right to be heard and understood.

I aim to offer a space and a relationship in which you can feel warmth and stability. From this place of safety and acceptance, I will work with you to explore the issues that are important to you, whether they arise from the past or the present day.

Below are a few key concepts that are at the heart of how I work -

• Equality, authenticity and compassion - I am interested in you and your story.
• Safety, stability, acceptance - How safe we feel in the world can affect us in so many ways. If we don’t feel safe we may rely on coping mechanisms and beliefs that can keep us stuck. That’s why establishing and maintaining a feeling of safety in the counselling room and relationship is paramount.
• Autonomy and dignity - You and you alone are the experts on yourself. We will regularly spend some time clarifying what it is you want from therapy and whether you feel you are getting it.
• Exploration and collaboration - You are the expert on yourself (see above), I will support you in your exploration by making use of my training. This might include gentle reframing through a compassionate lens, offering frameworks for developing understanding or offering interpretations.
• Self-understanding and self-determination - I believe that when we work to understand how our past affects us in the present, we are working to create the space and freedom to decide if we want to change it. I see counselling as a tool to help us grow that space and consequently our freedom to change how we experience life.
• Hope - I believe that counselling works and that it can work for you too. 

I am an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor. This means I use a wide range of ideas and therapeutic modalities to inform how I work and adapt my methods based on your individual experiences, personality and therapeutic goals.

Alongside this integrative lens, I have a primary modality that I am trained in and use, and if this resonates with you we can use this in our work together. It is called ‘Transactional Analysis’ (TA). TA is based on equality, compassion and autonomy and says “I believe you have the wisdom you need within you and I will work with you to help you find it”. 

It offers a framework for understanding how a person’s past can show up in their present-day (for example, as limiting beliefs, coping strategies, overwhelm and anxiety) and gives a range of tools for exploring this. Once a client develops their understanding of how their past shows up in their present, TA gives the client strategies for changing this, if they want. This process could be summed up as “exploring, understanding, relearning, healing”.

Therapeutic approaches I sometimes integrate into my work

Please be assured there is no expectation that you should or should want to engage with all or indeed any of these approaches - they are there as options but how we work is completely up to you.

• A trauma informed approach that prioritises safety, trust and empowerment.
• A relational way of working which focuses on the development of an authentic and supportive relationship.
• Nature Connection - you can read more about this on my website
• Mindfulness - through awareness and acceptance mindfulness techniques can support us in developing self-compassion, reducing stress and fostering a deeper connection to ourselves, others and the wider world.
• Existential philosophy, spirituality and meaning.
• Somatic and movement based practices - I believe experiences are stored in the body as much as they are stored in the mind and that movement and body-based practices can be a powerful way to work through psychological tensions.
• Creative work - We may use drawing, clay, metaphor or guided imagery if you choose to.
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) aka ‘tapping’. Tapping is an evidence based method for supporting your nervous system to help reduce stress, anxiety, trauma, pain, and other emotional or physical issues. If you want to, we can use EFT as a complementary tool to support you in your journey.
• The ‘Power, Threat, Meaning Framework’ (PTMF) - the PTMF is a model for understanding psychological distress that is non-pathologising. This means it does not look through the lens of mental ‘illness’, or see emotional difficulties as disorders or flaws. Instead, it sees them as understandable responses to the environment, relationships, or past experiences. It asks the question “What has happened to you?” rather than “What is wrong with you?”

My standard sessions are 60 minutes in length. I do offer 90-minute sessions if this is your preference.

• 60 minutes £60
• 90 minutes £80
• Block booking available
• 6 x 60 minute sessions £340
• 6 x 90 minute sessions £460

I review my fees on an annual basis in April and will give at least one month's notice if there is to be any change to fees charged. 

I have some capacity to offer discounted rates to the unwaged or those with significant financial burdens - please contact me if this applies to you. 

I offer discounted rates of 20% to students and trainee therapists.

If you are considering counselling and think that I might be a good fit for you I invite you to contact me by email. 

I ask that you send me an email with a brief description of what brings you to therapy at this time. I will get back to you promptly with my availability. If I have availability that suits you I can send you my counselling agreement and we can book in a free short face-to-face meeting at my office where I can answer any questions you might have or alternatively, we can book a full session.

If you decide to start counselling with me I have a couple of ways to book and pay for sessions, please see the ‘practicalities’ page for further info on this.

Accessibility

My office is up one flight of stairs and I am sorry to report there is no lift access. If you think you would like to work with me but this is a barrier for you please get in touch, I am willing to make home visits in the local area.

Location and Parking

I have a bright and comfortable office which is located on Britannia Road in the centre of Slaithwaite. There is 2 hours free parking in a large Aldi car park a one minute walk away. 

Facilities

I offer tea and coffee. There are toilets and washing facilities available within the building. There is a small kitchen area adjacent to my office where you are free to wait until your appointment begins.