Karen Raymond 07765 554045

I offer counselling online using Zoom and you will be able to see me using your computer, mobile phone or other device. Please have a look at the Zoom website if you are not familiar with this platform https://zoom.us/

I will email you a link each time we meet and I am happy to guide you if you are unfamiliar with this technology.

Being able to see your therapist gives you more of the benefits that you get when seeing someone face to face in their practice location.

Online therapy offers certain benefits but there are also some limitations that are worth considering.

Benefits

Counselling from your own home.

A higher level of confidentiality – you will not be seen entering the counsellor’s practice.

No travel expenses or travel time.

Things to Consider

Are you comfortable using internet technology?

Do you feel your situation is too complex to discuss via the internet?

Is there a device you can use in private without interruption?

Confidentiality

I am able to offer you confidentiality and it is important that you will be able to provide that for yourself too. This is so we will both feel free enough to be able to talk about the things you are wanting to address without feeling overheard or restricted.

Please Call or Email

If you want to find out more about my practice and how I work please email me karenraymondcounselling@gmail.com or call my work mobile 07765 554045.

If You Are In Crisis

Arranging online therapy may not be sufficient if you are in an immediate crisis. Signs of crisis may be feelings or thoughts about suicide or harm to yourself or another. In this case please consider speaking to a friend or family member. You can call 111 or 999.

You could also call The Samaritans on 116 123 this is free or email using this address jo@samaritans.org You could also send a text SHOUT to 85258 to receive support.

Useful Links for Support

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://www.mind.org.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

https://www.childline.org.uk/

https://giveusashout.org/

https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ – domestic abuse support for women

https://mensadviceline.org.uk/contact-us/ – domestic abuse support for men

Counselling as a helpful resource has started to become more accepted within UK culture. However, it is often cited in response to tragic events or in describing treatment for individual emotional crisis. These are valid and important ways that therapy can make a positive difference.

What I am noticing is that clients often value the therapeutic space in maintaining or to increase a sense of well-being. There is an appreciation of the confidential arrangement and the opportunity to pause and reflect on various aspects of life alongside an interested, yet professional person. This allows clients to start considering relationships, career and social connection in ways that heighten awareness and deepen understanding of self and others.

Why might this exploration of personal experiences enhance well-being? Well, it can feel good to take some time free from external responsibilities, distraction or perceived expectations to align ourselves with personal views, ideas and values in the presence of a trusted other who is not directly involved in daily life. In speaking aloud what we are noticing and wondering about, we inevitably begin to consciously consider our existence, this can positively influence our choices and emotional regulation. The therapeutic pause in a week, a month or at key times during the year can help us de-clutter our thinking and replenish our minds. It can assist us in forming a personal philosophy and develop self acceptance.

Continuous emotional self- care can often be a low priority for all sorts of reasons. Yet integrating counselling for well-being as part of a health care regime may prevent a sudden crisis. It will certainly open the door to greater self knowledge and reflection, and through this examination of self, it might be that a fuller engagement and appreciation of living may occur.

Karen’s Contact Details:

Email karenraymondcounselling@gmail.com

Work Mobile: 07765 554045

Sometimes in life we can get caught up in a story that things have gone very wrong, that it is all our own fault and we have no-one else to blame. That is a harsh thinking space to be in, and one that does not offer many solutions, tends to perpetuate feelings of isolation and creates a sort of self abandonment.

If your thinking has become stuck in this critical and uncomfortable groove it can help to talk to a trusted and caring friend, a loving family member or to call a helpline such as The Samaritans. Sometimes just sharing negative thoughts may release the power they are having over you.

You could also gently re-frame your thinking by offering yourself the same compassion and nurture you might to another person. You can do this by stepping back from the story of what has happened, just notice your feelings without judgement, and allow yourself to be a human being who can’t possibly get everything ‘right’ all of the time.

Accepting our own humanity allows for disappointments, mistakes, and all different types of decision making. In being kind and compassionate to yourself, you are more likely to start feeling better. It may also be that nicer thoughts will fill your mind and gentler feelings released into your body.

It can be useful in the active world in which we live; at work, at home or even navigating the internet, to additionally build up some emotional resilience. This can be achieved by practising mindfulness meditation, exercising in a group, taking good care of our physical health, learning to be assertive and understand our own unique needs, and developing friendships with like minded people.

Samaritans Contact Details:      Call Free: 116 123      Email: jo@samaritans.org

Karen’s Contact Details:

Email: karenraymondcounselling@gmail.com

Work Mobile: 07765 554045

Addiction can be defined as the taking of substances and/or using certain behaviours even though there are negative consequences. There is a perception of a complete loss of control and a sense that choosing not to engage in the addictive behaviours is impossible.

This can lead to feelings of despair, hopelessness and helplessness.

David Bowie in the documentary  Five Years, (2013, Director: Francis Whately) says:

It was like being in a car where the steering had gone out of control and when you are going towards the edge of a cliff. I’d almost resigned myself to the fact that I am going over the edge, you know, I am not going to be able to stop.

However, David Bowie did stop using drugs:

The thing that was most exciting about it all is that I found that without drugs I was still writing very well, you know, and that was probably the most rejuvenating aspect of it all, is that you don’t need to get stoned out of your gourd to write well, you know. I think that was, you know, an incredibly important period for me.

It took quite a long time and I did see light at the end of the tunnel.

I have worked with many people in their recovery from addictions and perhaps that is why I was so moved by David Bowie’s candour and willingness to share his vulnerability in a way that conveyed such beautiful humility.

People can and do recover from addictions and lives can become rejuvenated. Light is always present, even if it is not visible. If you are in the midst of addictive behaviour take heart. There will be a moment when your desire to change will be synchronised with an opportunity to begin a recovery process. At this point the decision can be made and life will start getting better.

Karen’s Contact Details:

Email karenraymondcounselling@gmail.com

Work Mobile: 07765 554045

 

I have decided to create a counselling blog so that I can write about subjects that I find interesting in a field that I feel privileged to be a part of. I also want to use this space to offer some personal empowerment strategies. Some of which have been freely given to me over the years by teachers and therapists.

The blog will also give me an opportunity to share any special projects or personal development group work that I will be facilitating throughout the year. It will be a nice way of me being able to update the information that I want to share with colleagues and potential clients.

So, this is my first post and I look forward to using my creativity to connect with others.

Karen’s Contact Details:

Email: karenraymondcounselling@gmail.com

Work Mobile: 07765 554045