Karen Batchelor
Hi, my name is Karen Batchelor, I am here to listen and to offer some time and space for you to be able to share how you have been feeling without fear of judgement.
I am a qualified and experienced psychodynamic counsellor and adhere to a professional code of ethics and good practice and belong to the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)
I appreciate that at first, turning to a counsellor for help may feel scary, but I would like to assure you that this is far from the case. I feel that through building a trusted, therapeutic relationship we can work together to explore, your life experiences, and how they may have affected you. This can help you to gain self-awareness for why you may react to certain situations the way you do, or why your life may have taken a certain path.
I understand that sometimes it can be hard to talk to or confide in our loved ones or friends, you may worry about upsetting them and not wanting to burden them with your concerns or perhaps you fear being judged or maybe you think that your problems or feelings aren’t as bad as theirs. Perhaps you are struggling to cope with a loss, whether it is a bereavement, a relationship, a job or just the feeling that your life is passing you by and it is
not working out how you had hoped.
Although I have trained in psychodynamic counselling, I do seek to determine an approach to the work that would suit you and your needs. I offer one to one, open-ended counselling, as I believe everyone’s needs are different.
What to expect from your first session
An initial appointment is offered soon after our first contact. This will be to discuss what has bought you to counselling and to assess how we may be able to work together in order to be able to explore what you have been feeling.
How long will each session last?
Each session will be 50 minutes, at the same time, once a week.
Training, qualifications & experience:
Certificate of Higher Education in Counselling University of Hertfordshire
Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling The Counselling Foundation
Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling The Counselling Foundation
What People Are Saying
“Thank you so much for always taking me seriously and getting me to this point where I can now move away and happily take care of myself.”
— Alison
“Thank you for all of your unwavering support through the laughter, the tears, through everything and mostly for being there that day I really needed you.”
— Sharon
“I am forever grateful for the greater self-love and care it gave me- the knowledge that my feelings matter ( as do those of others) and most of all, the understanding and compassionate help I received in helping me come to terms with difficult and painful issues that I carried from my childhood. I am grateful I found you, Karen”
— Anonymous
‘Karen has really transformed my thinking and has helped me better understand the underlying causes for my anxiety. Her thoughtful and considered questioning as we explored my thoughts and worries gave me insight into situations I was struggling with from both my and others' perspective. Karen's ability to establish trust and enable me to be honest with myself while also offering reassurance and compassion is testament to her professionalism and skill. I couldn't have imagined how helpful these sessions would be, I certainly didn't expect to be able to say that currently I am not experiencing anxiety or any physical symptoms associated with anxiety. I can't thank Karen enough, she is deeply committed to her work and it shows - I felt safe with her and willing to talk through difficult things because I knew she would see or recognise something that would help me or disrupt harmful thinking or give me a different way to look at things. Thank you, Karen.’
— Nicola
I came to Karen a confused, anxious young adult, struggling to find where I fit into the world. I have left a less anxious, calmer, more grounded person who is comfortable with the person she has become. I have also become more empathetic as a result of our sessions; better able to reflect on what other people might be thinking and feeling and where their emotions come from. I initially came to Karen with one ‘issue’ to work through, and together we unpicked how all of my emotions and experiences fit together, leaving me with a better understanding of how my own brain works! I never felt judged or uncomfortable in our sessions – Karen approached everything I said with sensitivity and her humour and kindness helped me through difficult conversations. When I think back to the person almost two years ago who was reaching the end of her ability to cope compared to the person I am now; the difference couldn’t be more profound. I couldn’t have asked for a better therapist, thank you Karen.