Karen Smith

My current hours are Tuesday and Wednesday daytimes and evenings. 

Please feel free to contact me so we can book in a free initial 20 minute virtual session, this helps you to identify if I feel like the right match for you and your needs.

Do you feel overwhelmed by past or current life events? Are you worried about either something specific or caught up in overthinking and feeling anxious? I can help you to move forward, feel happier, become more confident and move beyond just coping.

Painful experiences can often lead to feeling lost and disconnected, which can impact on how we feel about ourselves, our relationships and the world around us. This can often mean that we cope in ways that might feel good in the moment but are harmful to us or others, like avoidance, people pleasing, self-sabotage and compulsive behaviours.

Low self-esteem can have a negative impact on your enjoyment of life. You may feel that no matter what you do, it isn’t good enough; that the fear of failure and judgement stops you from enjoying life. You might find that you constantly put other peoples’ needs above your own but struggle to ask for help or support when you need it.

Living with anxiety is exhausting - the constant spinning of thoughts and fear of ‘What Ifs’ can result in you feeling scared, overwhelmed and out of control. If you are struggling with anxiety, you might find that it is impacting in many areas of your life including work and relationships.

Challenges can come with our jobs, our social interactions or with family issues. Loneliness or feelings of isolation can sometimes make us feel that we are not worthy of seeking support or help – but I can assure you that we all are and finding someone to talk to is the first step.

Shame and fear might be getting in the way of you asking for what you need, or being able to create effective boundaries or telling people how you feel, which might lead to more stuckness. As humans, we all get stuck at times, and we all need to feel seen, heard and understood.

Life can be challenging and sometimes we need professional help to make sense of what is happening to us, how to manage and cope, and gain perspective. Anxiety, depression and feelings of life being too much is a way for the body to let us know that all is not well.

I appreciate that counselling is a commitment, financially, emotionally and physically. Change takes a lot of courage, determination, resilience and the timing needs to be right for you. Committing to this process is the first step of many towards making positive changes in your life.

I can work alongside you to understand how your life experiences may have contributed to the way that you feel. I will support you in developing healthier, more self-accepting ways of being, where you will start to value your own needs and trust your own judgement. Doing this is going to help you become a more confident person who feels able to recognise, accept and express your own thoughts and feelings.

How can counselling help?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and struggling, it can be hard to talk to family members or friends about how you are feeling. They might want to try and fix things for you. Maybe you feel bad for sharing your problems with them. It could be that there is nobody that you trust enough to share your worries with.

Counselling can be useful at all stages of life, whether you are recovering from a particular crisis or have uncomfortable feelings you want to work through. Sometimes we have a problem but are unable to find the answers on our own. Counselling can help you discover solutions, untangle emotions, and find peace with situations beyond your control.

Counselling can have a positive impact on your life. It can help you to :

Reduce anxiety

Learn how to make better decisions

Develop improved ways of coping

Become more resilient

Feel more confident

What happens during counselling?

During our counselling sessions, you are given the space to talk and feel heard. You will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns and emotions that may be troubling you. I will respect you and hear you without judgement in a safe, relaxed, confidential environment. I strive to build a working relationship which is based on trust and respect.

Counselling is not always easy! I will support you to be curious and work through the emotions and thoughts that occur whilst making sense of your problems. While this is happening, I will also help you to develop the confidence to make your own decisions, bring about change and start to live the life that you want.

More about me

I am a qualified integrative counsellor. This means that I use various approaches in my work and can adapt sessions to suit your unique needs. As our sessions progress, I will ask you for feedback, so that we can work out which approaches are right for you.

Before training as a counsellor, I have worked and continue to work with a diverse range of people as a nurse and health visitor with over 30 years’ experience. Being a nurse has enhanced my work as a counsellor, through witnessing the impact and demands that life events have on people and their families both physically and emotionally.

What is the next step?

I understand that it can be daunting to talk about your problems to a stranger and that is why it is important to find a counsellor that you feel comfortable with. If you have read this far and are wondering if I could be that counsellor, please get in touch. We can arrange a free, no obligation telephone call so that I can answer any questions regarding working together.

Qualifications

• Level 6 Diploma in Integrative Counselling.

• Registered General Nurse

Training

• Mental Health First Aider

• Adverse Childhood Experiences

• Mental Health and the Body:Treating Trauma

• Video and Phone counselling 2.0

Experience

• Volunteered as a counsellor at Mind, and a men's charity