Karen

SPECIALISING IN INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES AND BABY LOSS

Hello, and welcome. I am Karen a qualified, experienced integrated counsellor, trained to work with couples, individuals and families, particularly specialising in couples and family counselling. My previous career consisted of 35 years working within the NHS, working as a nurse midwife and health visitor. My aim always is to help others which gives me great satisfaction and fuel my passion for the counselling service I offer.

Over the past 25 years I have volunteered for Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Society) offering support to individuals, couples and families who have tragically suffered baby loss. I set up the local Sands group in this area to offer support for local families 8 years ago due to there being no local support at the time. I am passionate and value the importance of listening to and validating client’s concerns, personally holding experiences of the devastating effects this can have on parents and families.

 I hold a masters degree in relational counselling. Working with couples and families requires a trusting and open therapeutic relationship and I know how difficult it can be to attend counselling and share your relationship difficulties. I will help you by offering a calm, genuine, empathic, trusting approach. Relationships are not always easy and sometimes it is hard to realise that indeed we require some help from someone experienced in this area and not known to you. It is a privilege for me to be part of your journey, guiding you to heal your most important relationships. It is so easy to ‘brush them on the table’. I can help you with this process and suggest a more appropriate way to do this. It may be there is conflict, communication difficulties, reduced connections, intimacy, infidelity or possibly you are both ‘stuck’ and need some help to identify why. Sometimes couples attend when they feel they are unable to rebuild their relationship and I can help in the process of separation or divorce if this is their chosen path. I offer a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space for people to share their concerns openly. I am a calm. empathic, genuine and warm individual and my overall passion is to help people to overcome the difficulties and concerns they are experiencing. I believe that everyone can explore inner resources with the help of a counsellor and achieve positive changes to relive their concerns and improve general well-being and relationships, offering increased future happiness.

I have a wide range of experience working with couples and families facing a variety of issues including communication problems, infidelity conflicts, culturally related issues and family issues. All first sessions will comprise an initial assessment to enable us together to plan future goals.

How we work together:

I am an integrative counsellor adopting different theories to suit the client’s needs. I particularly adopt a systemic approach. Meaning I explore the influences of family, community and wider society which make up the individuals we are and can impact our relationships. I believe that there are so many challenges in life today which can ultimately affect relationships causing concerns and difficulties, which people find over whelming and unable to manage without help. Everyone is unique and possess strengths, some of which they do not realise or are unsure of how to use in certain circumstances, knowing there are concerns but unable to communicate how they think and feel resulting in behaviours which in relationships can cause further conflict. I can help by working openly and exploring the concerns people present to find other options to move forward. I seek to do this by assessing, listening, communicating, and incorporating the use of different theoretical approaches ultimately exploring inner resources to promote beneficial change. I am experienced in using a variety of theories including systemic, solution-focused, person-centred and transactional analysis. Goals for therapy will be discussed and planned together, working to achieve the changes you require. Ultimately counselling is your journey, and I will guide and help people by using my skills, and knowledge to achieve your ultimate goals. I am passionate about the work I do and realise what a difficult step this can be, causing nervousness and anxiety, however I believe that I can help you to move forward, build confidence and enable you through the counselling process to address whatever issue you may have. 

I have previously worked with Relate and as an associate working with couples and families in a different locality. I continually access professional development courses to expand my knowledge base to provide the best possible counselling service for people. I particularly specialise in couples and family counselling and baby loss. I also work with individuals, particularly focused on anxiety, depression, post-natal depression and addictions.

There is no criteria for this service.

Areas I specialise in

• Baby loss
• Post natal depression
• Addictions
• Relationship and family problems
• Communication competences
• Distrust of your partner
• Betrayal
• Separation
• Divorce
• Boredom within your relationship
• Loneliness
• Single parenting
• Loss of a loved one
• Grief
• Improving relationships with other people
• Dealing with your emotions better
• Personal development
• Shyness
• Poor self-esteem
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety