Karen Morton

My practice is currently full and I have no availability until at least mid to late September. Many thanks.

I support clients to live their best life, whatever situation they find themselves.  I know taking that step and finding a therapist who is 'right' for you can also feel stressful, so I offer a 20-minute free Zoom video call so we can get to know each other a little and see if we might be a good fit. 

I have a special interest in supporting clients with anxiety, trauma and self-esteem issues, as well as chronic pain and illness. 

Anxiety and Self-Esteem

Being stuck in a cycle of anxiousness and/or having low self-esteem can be overwhelming and can stop you from living your life as you would like. Holding on to or 'pushing down' anxiety rather than releasing it often seems the 'right' way of managing it; sometimes we are not even aware how much we hold internally. Eventually we can reach a place of overwhelm.

Therapy can help you work through your anxiety, understanding and acknowledging triggers, trauma and fears, and find new ways of coping. There are many techniques that we can use to support this, and I will work with you so that we can discover which are appropriate for you.

Situations, events and experiences which are stressful, upsetting and or confusing can be traumatic. As Gabor Maté says, 'trauma is not what happened to you. It is what happens inside you because of what happened to you.' Trauma manifests itself in many different ways and take many different forms. Being rejected, abandoned, humiliated, unsupported, harmed, or witnessing harm, growing up in difficult circumstances, racial, cultural, gender and/or sexual identity discrimination or harassment, to name a few.

Trauma may be stored in your body for years, and then something happens, and triggers that experience. We know, for instance, that adverse childhood experiences can be triggered many years later, and unprocessed trauma can lead to issues in your adult life, such as anxiety, depression, addiction and both physical and mental health disorders. Feeling safe and grounded is the first step in working with trauma. Understanding your triggers and where appropriate, working through the trauma will not change what happened to you in the past, but it will enable you to live better in the present and going forward. 

If you are experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches, IBS, joint pain or fibromyalgia, for example, your body may be literally carrying or holding the weight of your anxiety. We can consider whether a more holistic approach will help you – exploring the connection between your physical symptoms and your anxiety.  I welcome the opportunity to support you to identify patterns, develop strategies and gain further insight and perspective to resolve personal issues and find new ways forward.

Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness

I support people with chronic pain and chronic illness, such as CFS/ME, long Covid, fibromyalgia and autoimmune conditions. Treatment for chronic conditions is mainly focused on managing, often debilitating, physical symptoms. However, the psychological and emotional impact of these conditions and symptoms are equally relevant and important. In my research and in my work with clients, I frequently encounter people who experience not being believed or heard and often are misunderstood. Sometimes they have been told that 'there's nothing wrong with you' 'it's all in your head' or 'you need to try harder'. This in turn can increase physical and psychological pain. I will listen, hear and believe you, working alongside you with empathy and without judgment.

Since your mind and body are connected, both your physical and psychological symptoms need addressing from a holistic mind-body perspective, whatever the cause. You might have a diagnosis and are in a great deal of pain which is becoming steadily more intense. Perhaps, for example, you have been investigated for numerous conditions and illnesses and the cause for your pain cannot be found on a blood test, MRI or x-ray. All pain is created in our brains, whether it is caused by a structural or emotional cause; the pain you experience is no different, whether or not a doctor can find the cause. Our understanding of pain has shifted greatly in recent years and neuroscience research has recognised pain's biopsychosocial component.

I will support you holistically to live an enriched life. We can utilise various techniques and will decide together which are appropriate for you. Whatever the cause of your pain, a mind-body approach may be of great benefit in pain and symptom reduction.  

As an experienced psychotherapist, as well as a SIRPA (Stress Illness Recovery Practitioners’ Association) practitioner, I support clients with adverse childhood experiences (‘ACE’s’) and trauma, as we safely explore the link between your physical and psychological symptoms, and where appropriate incorporating and/or adapting for example, the SIRPA approach, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy with psychotherapy approaches.

How I can support you
I can support you to look at aspects of your life and help you to identify patterns, develop strategies and further insight and perspective to resolve personal issues and find new ways forward.

I understand that this may seem a daunting process and offer a free 20 minute introductory call so that we can discuss how I can best support you. Please contact me by email for up-to-date and further availability or with any questions or concerns you may have.

I welcome the opportunity to work with you as we explore what life is like for you: exploring ways to cope with your challenges, and understanding and developing your way of being. As an experienced humanistic and integrative psychotherapist, I have a flexible and holistic approach, tailoring your therapy to your personal circumstances and needs as a unique individual.

What to expect in your first session

The first session is an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves and for us to consider whether we can work together. We discuss what has brought you to therapy, and I will ask for some information about your family history and current circumstances as well as to give you space to talk through anything else which you may wish to ask or discuss. 

Chronic pain and chronic illness

TMS/Mindbody Syndrome (I am a SIRPA practitioner, as well as Pain Reprocessing Therapy and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy practitioner, and integrate these mindbody approaches with psychotherapy where appropriate).

I offer a free initial 20 minute video or telephone introductory call.

Please contact me for current availability or if you have any questions.

I aim to respond within 12 hours during my usual working hours.

Please note that if  you contact me Friday afternoon or at the weekend, I may not respond until Monday.

Thank you.

You can chose to work with me exclusively online, or a blended approach where we agree to each week whether to have the session in person or online.

If you chose face-to-face sessions,  these take place in my therapy room in Rickmansworth.

Please email me for my current availability.