Karen Schumann

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Dip.Couns, MBACP Registered Counsellor. EFT Practitioner
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

Hitchin, Bedfordshire, SG5
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me

My name is Karen Schumann and I run Olive Tree Counselling, which is a private practice based in Stotfold, nr Hitchin. I have my own room at home, which is private, safe and comfortable. I offer face to face sessions but online and telephone sessions are also available.

Thank you for viewing my profile and for thinking about the possibility of starting counselling. This can feel quite daunting and taking that first step isn’t easy, which is why I’ve tried to include some helpful information here and on my website.

It is also why I offer a free 30 minute first session, so that you may come along, find out some more information and maybe ease some of the anxiety about counselling.

What to Expect

I practice the Person-Centred approach, which is non-directive and means that you are at the very heart of the counselling session. I work at your pace and ensure we work on what you (the client) would like to work on.

In our counselling sessions, you will receive empathy and kindness in a safe, warm, non-judgemental space. Together we will explore your thoughts and feelings to help you gain self-awareness and to help support you in moving forward.

I offer short-term and long-term counselling and this can be reviewed as we go along.

How Counselling Can Help

Life can be so tough at times, and the last couple of years have been particularly difficult for many people. It can be helpful to talk to someone outside of your family and to have some time just for you. Sometimes just being heard can bring such relief.

People come to counselling for many different reasons; perhaps you are experiencing a loss or bereavement, experiencing disruptive levels of anxiety, struggling in a relationship, struggling with your self-esteem, or perhaps you just need time to work on yourself and reflect.

Counselling can give you the time and space to talk these things through, as well as help to process events that may have happened in your life.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or any reassurance that you may need.

Thank you

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a fully qualified, trauma-informed Person-Centred Counsellor and a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). I am fully qualified to offer online and telephone counselling sessions. I am also an Accredited, Certified EFT Practitioner.

As a member of the BACP I work to their code of ethics called the Ethical Framework. This framework covers areas such as values and principles of counsellors and is there to protect clients and counsellors.

I also have regular supervision with a professional, accredited supervisor who adheres to the BACP Code of Ethics in maintaining client confidentiality.

Since qualifying as a Counsellor in 2010, I have worked with adults and young people with a range of issues such as bereavement, loss, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, birth trauma, self-harm, self-esteem, OCD, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and much more.

I am committed to personal and professional development and attend regular Continued Professional Development training.

Some of the courses I have completed are: -

  • Certificate in Trauma-Informed Practice
  • Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (80hrs)
  • Level 1 & 2 in EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique - Now a fully qualified Practitioner
  • Reiki Level 1 & 2
  • Understanding Menopause for Wellbeing Professionals

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Birth trauma

Phobias - Using EFT Tapping

Self-limiting beliefs 

Photos & videos

Fees

£50.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed
  • Refugees

Additional information

I offer a free, 30 minute first initial session so that we may determine if we would like to work together. This can be via face to face, online or by telephone.

After that, sessions are 60 minutes and are charged at £50 per session.

*Concessions for students and those on low income are available on request.

EFT sessions are charged at £60 per 60 minute session, or you can book 3 sessions for £165 saving £15, or 6 sessions for £300, saving £60. These sessions do not have to be weekly and can be spread out over a number of weeks/months.

When I work

Appointments are available in the daytime and evening - Monday - Thursday.

Further information

Stotfold is easily accessible from the A1 and fairly central to most towns. It is 10-15 minutes from Arlesey, Hitchin, Baldock, Letchworth and Stevenage. It is also 10-15 minutes from Henlow and Shefford.

Hitchin, Bedfordshire, SG5

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

The counselling room at Olive Tree Counselling is accessed via a gate into a flat garden. There is one small step up into the room.

Online platforms

Zoom
Skype
VSee

Social

Karen Schumann
Karen Schumann