About me
Hello, I’m Karen.
You may find yourself overthinking conversations, doubting yourself or worrying about upsetting other people. Perhaps you often put others first, find it difficult to say no or set boundaries, or feel responsible for other people’s feelings and needs. On the outside you may appear to be coping, while inside you feel anxious, overwhelmed or disconnected from yourself.
Sometimes these patterns have been around for so long that they simply feel like part of who you are. You may even look back on your childhood and think it was “fine”, yet still wonder why certain situations, relationships or emotions affect you so strongly now.
I offer a calm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what is happening for you. You don’t need to have everything figured out before coming to counselling, and you don’t need to know exactly where to begin.
Together, we can gently explore the experiences and relationships that may have shaped how you see yourself, relate to others and respond emotionally today. This isn’t about blaming the past or “fixing” you. It’s about developing a deeper understanding of yourself, recognising patterns that may no longer serve you, and finding ways of responding that feel more like your own choice.
My approach is collaborative, compassionate and led by you. We work at a pace that feels manageable, with space for both talking and noticing what may be happening emotionally and physically.
I offer counselling face-to-face from my private counselling room in Potton, Bedfordshire, as well as online and by telephone.
My Approach
I am a qualified Integrative Counsellor and an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Accred). I also hold a CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy.
I draw from person-centred, psychodynamic and somatic approaches, adapting our work to you rather than following a one size fits all model. At the heart of my approach is the belief that you are the expert in your own life.
Alongside talking therapy, my somatic training allows us to explore how stress, anxiety and difficult experiences can be felt in the body as well as understood through our thoughts. This might include gently noticing physical sensations, emotional responses or patterns of feeling overwhelmed, disconnected or shut down. There is no pressure to work in any particular way; we find together what feels useful and appropriate for you.
I have a particular interest in anxiety and overthinking, people pleasing and boundaries, relationship difficulties and repeating patterns, low self-esteem and self-worth, emotional overwhelm or shutdown, the lasting impact of childhood experiences, and trauma and complex PTSD.
I have a particular interest in:
Anxiety and overthinking
People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries
Relationship difficulties and repeating patterns
Low self-esteem and self-worth
Emotional overwhelm and shutdown
Childhood experiences and their lasting impact
Trauma and complex PTSD
Bereavement, grief and loss
Depression and low mood
Training, qualifications & experience
Certificate in working therapeutically with Autistic Clients CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy
CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
CPCAB Level 3 Counselling Studies
CPCAB Level 2 Counselling Skills
BACP Introduction to Counselling Young People
Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Accred)
Enhanced DBS for Adults and Children
Additional CPD includes:
- Narcissistic Relationships, Emotional Abuse & Gaslighting
- Working with Suicide and Self-Harm
- Trauma and the Body: Dissociation and Somatisation
- Child sexual abuse - hope for healing
I also engage in ongoing professional supervision and continuing professional development to support safe, ethical, and up-to-date practice.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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
Fees
£50.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Sessions are payable 24 hours in advance by bank transfer.
When I work
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Please contact me for availability of times and days.
