Karen Walker
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Welcome I'm Karen. Many people experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, panic attacks and/or other psychological difficulties at some point in their lives.
Thoughts and feelings about difficult relationships, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, infidelity, caregiving, isolation, bereavement or a sense of inner conflict can give rise to mental distress too.
Many people decide to engage in therapy having had a mental health diagnosis because they wish to understand this, and themselves, better. Others use counselling to add value, by exploring what they want from life, for example.
Whilst the origins of thoughts and feelings are often difficult to identify, they can become overwhelming, even manifest in physical difficulties and psychological symptoms. Counselling/psychotherapy can help you understand, tolerate or accept how you feel. It can help you begin to make personal change, if this is what you want.
I offer short and long term, psychodynamic counselling/psychotherapy in Kinross, Edinburgh and worldwide, online.
I have been in practice for ten years (private practice over seven).
I work with individuals, couples and groups.
Psychodynamic counselling/psychotherapy
The psychodynamic approach is derived from psychoanalysis, it makes use of over 100 years of clinical research and theory. This psychotherapeutic model foregrounds the importance of relationships and past experience in shaping current thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Psychodynamic therapy makes the assumption that, without exploration, much of what we are uncertain or 'conflicted' about is not readily available to our conscious awareness. Unlike other types of therapy, psychodynamic approaches support the individual to go beyond self-knowledge which is consciously available in order to address painful issues which may be hidden (unconsciously). Therapists aim to build an accepting and trusting relationship and encourage clients to talk about past experiences and relationships. Techniques used include, for example: free association, interpretation (where meanings given to thoughts/wishes are considered) and transference, where feelings experienced in previous significant relationships are thought about in terms of current relationships and the relationship built between the client and therapist (BACP 2023).
Please call me on: 07500 369 007 or click here to send me an email.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience
Professional tutor in counselling and psychotherapy at The University of Edinburgh.
My training as a therapist is added to 15 years' experience meeting the additional support needs of young people and their families in education and taking responsibility for their inclusion. This lead to my interested in working with clients experiencing any type of family or relationship issues.
My corporate experience spans employment in a number of sectors of the economy, in the UK and abroad. I also have an interest in working with clients who encounter workplace stress or relational difficulties.
I advocate for the importance of equality and inclusion. My studies in diversity and a passion for equity contribute to my satisfaction when working with clients. I welcome the opportunity to work with those who experience any physical, psychological or societal barriers to living.
Qualifications
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body.
- BSc (Hons), MSc Psychology - The Open University.
- Postgraduate Certificate of Inclusive Practice - University of Aberdeen.
- Postgraduate Certificate of Education - University of South Africa
- Foundation Degree in Counselling - The Open University
- Certificate Psychoanalytic Group Analysis - Institute of Group Analysis
- Diploma Stage 1 Professional Education Scheme - (now Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) - Edinburgh Napier University Business School
Membership
- Registered Member British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy - Reg.MBACP
- Practitioner Member Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland - PMCOSCA
- Graduate Member (2009) The British Psychological Society - GMBPsS
- Associate Member - Institute of Group Analysis - AMIGA
Other/Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Mindfulness Meditative Practice - Playfield Institute.
- Troubling behaviours in Children and Young People - Playfield Institute.
- Anxiety Management Groups - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
- Introduction to Psychoanalysis in Contemporary Society - Human Development Scotland
Member organisations
COSCA is the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland, and seeks to advance all forms of counselling and psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills by promoting best practice and through the delivery of a range of sustainable services. COSCA Counsellor Accreditation is a pathway to entry onto the UKRC. It is a requirement of all individual and organisational members of COSCA to abide by its Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice and be accountable to the Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Fees
£70.00 per session
Additional information
Fees:
Individual £70. Couple £80 (Initial individual assessment for (any combination) of couple £80
Bank transfer, Paypal, cheque.
(Corporate Healthcare/Self employed welcome/fee adjustment by negotiation).
Sessions are 50 mins.
Cancellation Policy:
Non attendance or sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice - 50% of session fee is applicable.
When I work
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Online, phone, in-person.
Further information
Highest Clinical and Ethical Standards
As a registered member of a counselling profession representative body, the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I work in accordance with it's Ethical Framework. Additionally, I am a counsellor on the Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland - COSCA's register which has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. I adhere to COSCA’s Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice too. I am subject to the BACP and COSCA's complaints procedures.
I engage in continuing professional development and take regular clinical supervision.
The name of the practice is Candid Consulting Ltd, the work is fully insured.
In addition to private practice, I dedicate a number of hours each week to philanthropic work.
Making Contact
Deciding whether to have counselling/psychotherapy can be difficult. If you are considering trying therapy, the first step is to make contact by confidential email (above) or telephone (above). I can talk with you (without charge) in the strictest confidence about what to expect and answer any questions you may have. This gives you the chance to think about whether you would like to work with me.
I see clients in my consulting rooms in either Kinross, Edinburgh or worldwide, online.