Details
North East England/Online
07442808719
counsellinginnorthumberland.com
Email
My clients tell me they value my down to earth attitude, my open mindedness, my compassion, and that I do not “seem like a therapist”. I do not believe I am an expert who can tell you what to do. I am a trained professional who can walk alongside you and use my expertise to help you work out the issues that matter to you.
WHERE CAN COUNSELLING TAKE PLACE?
Online therapy:
This can be particularly useful to a number of people, either because of time, location, other commitments, disability, or convenience. Sessions can take place either via webcam, or instant messaging. I currently work with people from across the world, including expats who find online counselling ideal for their needs.
Face to Face:
I also offer conventional in person counselling, based in the Tyne Valley, around 30 minutes drive from Newcastle, in Stocksfield or Prudhoe.
Walking Therapy:
For some, especially those with negative experiences of counselling, or institutional abuse in their history, offices and enclosed spaces can be distressing. Others find nature itself to be healing, and research bears this out. Living as I do in the beautiful Tyne Valley I am able to provide walking therapy, an unconventional but increasingly popular way of doing counselling. We walk, and allow the session to unfold as we walk. I have a number of routes, and before the first session we would discuss your mobility needs, as well as any other concerns you might have.
All sessions usually last for 50 minutes and take place weekly. I am also fully insured and have a DBS check.
Qualifications, Training and Member Organisations
- Professional Diploma in Counselling as well as further specialist training. This included 100 hours of supervised volunteer counselling in organisations who provided low-cost or free counselling to clients from very diverse backgrounds. It cemented within me the need for therapy to be more affordable and accessible to all.
- Initial training was person centered, in essence this means believing you, the client, is the expert in your own life. I was fortunate that my department encouraged us to use and develop skills from all schools of counselling.
- Studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity (GSRD), one of the few courses in the world to cover this area in depth.
- I am a registered member of the BACP, the largest regulator of counselling in the UK. I adhere to their ethical framework, and complaints procedures.
I have undergone specific extra training and am experienced in working with:
- Domestic abuse including coercive control
- Child abuse
- Bereavement
- Relationship counselling
- Working online
- Drug and alcohol use
- Rape
- Family breakdown
- Gender and sexual diversities including; asexuality, BDSM, bisexuality, non binary identities, polyamorous and non monogamies, kink and trans clients.
- Working with sex workers
How I work
Choosing to start counselling is for many a huge step. People can be concerned about stigma, stirring up the past, being judged. Many clients approach me after previous negative experiences of counselling. My attitude to counselling is always rooted in my belief that everyone is doing the best they can, with the resources they have available to them.
I believe passionately in ethical practice, and the need for strong regulation of counselling to protect clients from abusive or negligent therapists. I am also fully insured. It matters to me that clients feel able to make a complaint just as they would against any other professional. I advocate for better training of therapists in gender, sexuality and relationship diversity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The choice of counsellor is an intensely personal one. Please explore my site, and writing, I feel it is so useful to get a feel for whether I would be the right person for you. Here I have suggested some questions clients might like to ask a potential counsellor or therapist
What happens in the first session?
The initial session is very much a “getting to know you”. It is important you feel I am the right therapist for you. We will discuss practicalities, such as time, contact between sessions, emergency contacts and so forth. We will both sign a written contract, which gives you a clear outline of what to expect from me. We will also discuss issues around self care, and understanding that counselling can stir up strong emotions. You will only need to pay for this session if you decide to continue, I feel its important clients have no pressure on them when making such an important decision.
How do you work online?
Online counselling can take place either by instant messaging or camera. I use either Skype or an encrypted secure apps called Appear.in or Zoom. I have written simple how to guides of how to set up Skype accounts, use instant messaging, or Appear.in/Zoom. I also have guidance on protecting your confidentiality if for example you are using a family or shared computer.
You are also a writer, will you write about our sessions?
Whilst my clients continually educate and inspire me, I take great pains to ensure that nothing from the sessions ends up in my writing. I do not anonymise, instead I use totally hypothetical situations if I am writing about counselling. It is understandable that you might be worried about confidentiality however I make it one of my guiding principles that if I cannot write about something without respecting the sacred bond of trust between me and a client, I do not write about it at all.
Do you offer lower cost session?
For counselling students undertaking their mandatory therapy I offer a reduced rate of £25 per session. I enjoy this work immensely, and feel privileged to work with someone as they embark on a career which has brought me so much personal fulfillment.
I also offer a limited number of low cost sessions to people who belong to gender and sexual minorities, in recognition of both the marginalization faced, and the difficulties faced in finding therapists who do not pathologise non allocishet identities. If income is a barrier currently, please do not hesitate to get in touch, and to see what we can organise.
To Contact Karen: