Karen Murdoch-North

Hello and welcome to my page.

Well done to you for making the first steps towards seeking help.

I’m aware often it’s not easy!  

Sometimes we can put ourselves last while giving everyone else an abundance of what we actually need ourselves, but it’s okay to not be okay, and it’s not selfish or wasteful to seek help. 

Let me tell you a little about myself...

I have always had an interest in psychology.  However, it wasn’t until I moved with my family from Kent to Somerset, that I started working in the mental health sector.

Since 2015 I have worked for two mental health charities, with clients who have severe complex mental health, initially as a Support Worker, then as a Recovery Coach before deciding to train as a Therapeutic Counsellor.  

I took this step as I continually saw how clients really suffered.  Often feeling worthless, unmotivated, alone and stuck with a very limited ability to self-regulate and manage their feelings and emotions. While also feeling uncomfortable in their skin, and often having no sense of identity, regularly asking themselves………… “Who am I?” 

While working with my clients from a broad range of backgrounds, I learnt to identify how we all can develop negative patterns of behaviour and addictions in response to trying to find ways to cope with life, yet these can actually lead to further feelings of worthlessness, shame, failure, fear and anxiety, we can also face resistance and be unable to make changes, feeling huge fear, and the dread of allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. 

I am interested in helping people unpick their past at their own pace, in a non-judgemental safe space.  Slowly, with sensitivity step by step and toe by toe if necessary.  Where you can feel held in a secure, trusting, compassionate relationship, so that you can begin to make sense of why you feel and act the way you do, and/or lack a sense of who you are.  I warmly accept and compassionately understand that it’s okay to be scared to come for counselling.

I have a particular interest in addictions as a response to trauma and how this plays out in an individual's life.  Being trauma-informed from my years working with mental health charities, I have come to see it is not what is wrong with you, but what happened to you. That the patterns of dysfunctional/negative behaviours are potential patterns to self-soothe our pain and attempts to re-regulate and balance our internal distress so that we can function and do life. 

As such I enjoy researching and reading around different forms of addiction, co-dependency, relational, attachment and developmental trauma, childhood emotional neglect and eating disorders. 

My practise is held in an insulated summer house within my garden, located on the peaceful Somerset levels in Wells. A safe space where I can listen with compassion and non-judgemental acceptance of clients and where they are on life’s journey.  Clients are held at the centre, and together everything is approached at their individual pace, in their time, when they feel ready.  I prefer to work face to face, but also offer online and phone counselling.  I also sometimes offer walk and talk and home visits, (please note an additional charge may apply for travelling time and expenses).

Childhood emotional neglect

Issues with codependency 

First introductory session is for one hour, charged at £20.  During this session we can get to know each other, and see if we feel we can work together. 

During this first session we also get to discuss the counselling contract which outlines what you can expect from counselling and what I can expect from you.  After this session there is absolutely no obligation for you to continue if you feel I am not the counsellor for you; and I will also be happy to recommend other counselling options to you.   

Discount given on a limited number of places for low income, trainee counsellors and key workers.