Hello, I’m Karen—a name that’s taken on some unfortunate cultural baggage lately, but rest assured, I’m not that kind of Karen. In fact, if anything, I’d like to reclaim it with kindness, empathy, and a wealth of lived experience.

I’m a professionally qualified and registered counsellor, and over the years I’ve worked in a variety of emotionally rich and challenging settings. This includes time at a residential rehab facility supporting individuals in both primary and secondary stages of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. I’ve also worked extensively with clients who have experienced sexual abuse, whether in adulthood or childhood. As you can imagine, these experiences often come hand in hand with other complex challenges such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and panic attacks.

In addition to my professional training, I bring my own life experience into every session. I’m an adopted person myself, which has shaped a deep and personal understanding of identity, belonging, and the lifelong impact of early relationships. It’s an area I care about deeply.

My approach is grounded in compassion, empathy, and authenticity. While the session is always about you, I believe my life experiences allow me to connect on a more human level and help you feel truly heard and understood.

A little more about me: I live near the River Tamar in beautiful Cornwall. I’m married to an ex-serviceman and am a proud mother and grandmother. Our household includes a rescue dog from Bosnia and a rather striking pink parrot who keeps things lively. I’m also a fair-weather gardener—nothing gets done between October and March, but when the sun returns, you’ll find me out there planting, pruning, and watering.