Why work with Karen?
Finding the right person to talk with and work through the difficulties, or painful experiences is important when starting online counselling. It is one of the reasons why I offer a 15 minute introductory session by video or telephone call, free of charge. It will help us decide if we would be a good fit to work together in online counselling.
How I work
My way of working therapeutically is with Gestalt therapy at the core. I will listen to the words you speak or write, responding with compassion and sometimes with challenge. I will be with you in your pain or distress, or confusion about your current circumstances.
I integrate aspects from Psychodynamic, Person-Centred, Transactional Analysis schools of thought where they complement and sit alongside Gestalt.
Please contact me to find out more.
What is Gestalt?
Gestalt therapy, in essence, says that no one part is greater than the sum of the whole. In other words, it looks at patterns of behaviour and/or thinking, and how you feel about those patterns; whether you want to make changes, or feel stuck about something, or are curious about your way of being in the world. The focus is on the here and now, raising your awareness around the situations, issues, or thoughts you want to explore, whether that is current or a memory from the past. Through the raising of our awareness, we find we can make choices to change if we want to.
Why online?
I work exclusively online and have done since 2020 and use various platforms. My preferences are for video calls or email. However, I do work using the telephone and less frequently IM chat. With video and telephone calls, as well as IM chat, we work together in the same time frame at an agreed time and day. For email, we work in different time frames, we agree together when you will send your email and when my response will be. This way of working in counselling affords space and time to reflect on what is written.
My experience
My work in GP surgeries gave me experience working with adults over the age of 18.
They brought a range of problems and struggles, from generalised anxiety, bereavement, low self-esteem, low self-worth, mild depression, relationship problems, and stress.
Sometimes people felt unhappy and wanted to know why.
My Areas of Specific Interest
From my time working as a midwife, I work with parents who may have experienced difficulties during pregnancy, delivery or in the post-natal period.
Sometimes it may be to debrief in greater detail, or to work through something they feel stuck with or to grieve for their lost child.
Having experienced bereavements in my life, I understand how painful that life event can be. Talking through our pain with a counsellor can be helpful and in turn lead us to find ways of living with our losses.
I know what it is like to be made redundant, to experience restructuring at work and understand how difficult, distressing and stressful that can be. Sometimes it can take a while to adjust and counselling I believe can help you through that process.