Karen Dawes
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I work with anxiety and depression and help clients explore the source of these difficulties alongside explaining the impact of these on our bodies, minds and feelings. Once clients realise how challenging life events can alter how we perceive the world around us, we can work on effective ways to manage the symptoms and change the ways we relate to others and cope with different situations.
For some clients it may be easy to identify the cause of their distress eg a bereavement; others may not have a very clear idea of why they suffer so. It is my job to help clients find the answers they seek.
Whilst I work with a wide range of issues, anxiety and depression feature in most.
Training, qualifications & experience
FdSc Integrative Counselling (Clarkson) , Greenwich University
Accredited member of BACP
I have worked with adults and young people, most recently in a College of Further and Higher Education, where therapy was time limited (six or twelve sessions). I have also worked as a volunteer for four years in a local organisation offering long term therapy for adults (up to three years). Throughout the pandemic I have been part of a group of volunteer counsellors offering support to keyworkers.
I am guided by BACP's Ethical Framework and also attend regular supervision and professional development workshops and seminars.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Many clients benefit from understanding more about how our brains work and the interconnectedness of our bodies, minds and feelings. This can be empowering as it gives substance to the benefits of mindfulness, breathing, exercise and play as tools to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. It helps those clients who might see themselves as 'mad' or 'crazy' by offering explanations and hope that they can work towards mastery of themselves and greater resilience.
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Concessionary fees available
When I work
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Further information
Choosing a counsellor can seem difficult with so many different types of qualification and experience on offer. Although these matter, therapy works best when a good relationship can be built allowing a client to feel safe enough to talk openly and freely about their issues. An initial consultation will help you decide this.
In our first meeting we will look at the difficulties you are facing and what type of help you are looking for. It is important that you feel comfortable talking to me and this first session is an opportunity to experience what it would be like to work together. Should you wish, I can offer a shorter free first session to help you decide whether we can work well together.
I offer therapy by telephone, zoom or face to face in the premises of a local clinic.
