Welcome to Karen Martin Counselling and Psychotherapy Services
Working to get stability and balance back your life
How Counselling Can Help
Welcome, and thank you for visiting.
Hello, I am a counsellor, psychotherapist and EMDR trained practitioner specialising in historical trauma. I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
I came into counselling after many years as a teacher and realised that the importance of mental health is the foundation for growth and contentment in ones life. Life experiences can provide levels of trauma which quite often we 'just get on with' however it sits within us as an internal wound which over time affects all aspects of our life. Counselling allows us to gain self awareness and provides us with tools to support us in managing and dealing with our trauma.
As a person centred therapist using talk therapy together we will work to explore areas of your life you want to address supporting with emotional regulation and life goals. The outcome is that you gain stability and balance back into your life. Within my service, I offer flexible appointments whether face to face or remote. If you are struggling, please get in touch. You can create a new path for yourself, a happier place to be.
How I Work With Clients
As a counsellor my role is to provide space and guidance on your journey of self discovery. In looking at your life and gaining awareness of what you want, meaningful choices can be made to support you moving forward. As a person centred therapist I'm empathetic to your needs ; being non judgemental and providing space for reflection and insight. Feeling safe and listened to is vital in developing good therapeutic relationships. Together we will explore your situations and facilitate empowerment within your life to make healthy changes.
I am also a EMDR therapist working with clients who have suffered historical trauma in their life. This form of therapy is powerful in processing memories which are negatively affecting your life in the here and now creating a calm and enabling you to heal and grow within your life.
People come to me for help with a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:
Feelings of stress or anxiety
Panic attacks
Relationship problems
Grief, loss or bereavement
Problems with addiction
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Abuse
Depression
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
Anger management
Issues relating to sexuality
Difficulties at work or in retirement
Problems with family or school life
SPEAK IN CONFIDENCE
Counselling takes place in a safe space, where you can meet with someone who will listen with sensitivity and empathy - and without judgement. In the therapy space thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely and in confidence.
A PROBLEM SHARED...
Trouble with a relationship; anxiety or panic attacks; mood swings or depression - many people face difficulties in their everyday lives that can be hard to get on top of. Counselling gives us a set of tools we can use to help gain a better understanding of what’s causing these problems - and how you can move towards managing or resolving them.
MAKE BETTER, HEALTHIER NEW CHOICES
Working together I can help you gain greater insight into the difficulties you are facing, help you understand why you act or react to them the way you do, and see how you can start to make better, heathier choices moving forward.
CONTACT ME
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07530 196912 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
FEES & AVAILABILITY
I offer a free 10 minute initial consultation for all first time clients.
Thereafter sessions are £50 for a 50 minute session. (Plus 10 minutes note taking and looking at next steps).
For EMDR clients sessions are £70 for a 50 minute session (longer sessions of 90 minutes can be requested at a fee of £120).
Payment is required in advance of service ideally 24 hours in advance.
CANCELLATIONS
If you need to cancel or re-arrange your appointment please
- telephone: 07530196912 and leave a message or
- email martinkaren076@gmail.com
I request you to provide at least 24 hours notice to cancel your counselling session, then no fee will apply.
I accept payment by bank transfer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions. Over a certain number of weeks the understanding of the problem improves and away forward becomes clear. Therapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a long-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.
Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling works well as an ongoing, longer-term option - or therapy can manage to resolve an issue in just a few sessions.
How long a period of counselling lasts will vary from person to person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. For some people a couple of sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach.
Before we begin any work we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number review our progress. As long as we both agree further therapy will be of benefit to you, sessions can continue.
My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availabity. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availabity of that free ‘slot’.
Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.
Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, and there the law requires that I notify an authority; in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.
Usually I am asked this question by people who are nervous about entering into counselling, or when they are looking for support in coming to see a therapist. This anxiety is understandable, but a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel free to talk about any issues you feel are important to you. Having someone else with you who can be connected those issues makes this opening-up more difficult, so for this reason I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family.
© Karen Martin
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