Karen Bell , BACP

Karen Bell is a UK-based counsellor with 18 years of professional experience, offering a person-centred approach that makes the client’s experience and feelings a priority. She is a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), a recognised professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom, and brings extensive clinical experience from a range of settings.

Her background includes working within a GP surgery, providing trauma counselling for Someone Cares with clients who have experienced suicidal ideation, self-harm and child sexual abuse, and serving as an Occupational Health Counsellor for Northumbria Police where she specialised in trauma and employee assistance provision. These roles have contributed to wide experience in addressing stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, bereavement and other losses, as well as issues such as addictions, parenting difficulties, sleep and eating concerns, and complex trauma.

Karen creates an open, non-judgemental space where thoughts and feelings can be shared and explored. She welcomes people regardless of gender, sexuality, culture, religion or protected characteristic, and invites those on the autism spectrum or with ADHD to share their needs and preferences. She also offers support for survivors of narcissistic abuse and gaslighting and validates the reality of those experiences.

Sessions are available via video, phone and live chat, and Karen encourages anyone considering therapy to take the first step toward a more fulfilling life. This profile is not an emergency service. If a person cannot wait for a session, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123, call 999 in the UK, or go to A & E.

Therapeutic Approaches for Effective Online Support

Karen draws on client-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and EMDR as part of her online practice. Client-centred therapy focuses on empathic listening and creating a non-judgemental space so individuals can explore their feelings and build self-understanding - it is often helpful for issues around self-esteem, relationships and life transitions.

CBT looks at the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and supports people to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and coping strategies, which can assist with anxiety, depression, stress and addictive behaviours. EMDR is a trauma-focused method that helps process distressing memories and reduce the emotional impact of past events, and it can be used when trauma-related symptoms are a central concern.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Karen works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best fit their needs, goals and preferences, and may combine approaches as appropriate alongside guidance from licensed professionals. Online sessions by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging offer flexibility to fit therapy around work, family and daily life, and make it easier to access regular support from home or another convenient location.