Karen Richards
About me
I am a sensitive, respectful and widely experienced therapist. I work with high standards of integrity and adhere to a professional code of ethics and good practice. My core model of therapeutic understanding is Psychodynamic, which is informed by additional trainings in the Systemic, Psychological First Aid (Trauma), Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) and Interpersonal (IPT) Therapy theoretical approaches. This enables my work with the individual to be flexible and adaptive in the desire of being most helpful to my clients.
Just as everyone is unique, the length of the Counselling or Therapy relationship can be tailored to suit the need, time limited to focus on a particular difficulty / situation, or can be a wider, deeper, exploration, providing support over a longer term. My clinical practice during the last 14 years has involved working with both individuals and couples in various settings and organisations (including the NHS and Relate), as well as in private practice. I have also found providing clinical Supervision to Psychodynamic and Multi-disciplinary therapists, individually and in groups, to be an extremely rewarding experience.
I am part of Hertford Counselling Service, located in Bluecoats estate in Hertford. I can be reached there on www.hertfordcounsellingservice.com
In light of the Covid 19 restrictions upon interaction I am offering Online therapy sessions via Zoom which is a confidential, encrypted service. I am also offering Telephone therapy sessions for those that would prefer.
Training, qualifications & experience
1998 - 2000 OCR Diploma Foundation and Certificate in Counselling.
2000- 2002 University of Hertfordshire. Diploma in professional studies of Psychodynamic Counselling.
2000-2002 WPF (Herts & Beds Counselling Foundation). Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling.
2002-2004 WPF (Herts & Beds C Foundation). Advanced Diploma Psychodynamic Counselling.
WPF (Herts & Beds Counselling Foundation). Advanced Certificate in Counselling Skills.
2005-2006 Relate Central Office. Fast Track in Couple Counselling (Systemic).
2006 Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre. Post Grad course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
2006 Herts & Beds in association with CID Training. Diploma in Critical Incident Debriefing.
2008 WPF (Herts & Beds Counselling Foundation). Diploma in Supervision of Psychotherapists.
2013 University of Surrey Camb & Peterborough NHS Trust. IAPT: Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).
As part of the above qualifications I have had training in a wide variety of therapeutic approaches and worked clinically with a very broad caseload of clients. I have worked as a Therapist and Supervisor in Charitable Community Counselling Centers, Schools, NHS, NCH alongside Social Services, Employee Assistance Programmes (as a manager and clinical supervisor, but also as a therapist), Relate Counselling Centers, GP practice within a very busy and challenging inner city location. As well as many years of private practice in Hertford.
I have also worked as a Clinical Supervisor to Counsellors and Therapist during and after training. This Supervision to qualified and practitioners in training have been provided in professional and charitable organisations, as well as in my private practice.
My Professional Memberships:
UKCP United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapists
BACP Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
FPC Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling
UKRC United Kingdom Register of Counsellors
BAPPS British Association of Psychodynamic Psychoanalytic Supervisors
IPT UK Interpersonal Therapy United Kingdom
Member organisations
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.
UK Council for Psychotherapy
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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
Availability
I am currently offering Online therapy sessions via Zoom, which is a confidential encrypted service and Telephone sessions for those who would prefer.
Further information
I have a commitment to continuing my professional development to provide the best service possible for my clients. I also operate a fully insured practice.
Hertford Practice:
I am part of the Hertford Counselling Service. Our rooms are in a calm confidentual space. We are based in Bluecoats Estate this is not a domestic residence, but dedicated consulting rooms. We are situated close to Hertford East Station within easy walking distance. There is car parking immediately opposit the location.
I am an approved provider registered with the following medical health insurers:
BUPA, AVIVA, CIGNA HEALTH.
