Karen Mackey

I want my practice to be flexible to meet your needs and can usually find a time for most clients.  Whilst I know it works well for many clients to come along weekly, there is no obligation to do so or to commit to a set number of sessions with me.  

Whether you are looking for individual or couples counselling, therapy allows you to take stock and consider how to move forward. You might be aware of particular issues you want to look at, such as anger, anxiety, sadness, difficulties in a relationship or you may just have the sense that things could go better.

Counselling involves talking and engaging but there are also practical tools and ideas which may help. You have a particular way of looking at the world which is to be valued; whatever you choose to do needs to make sense and fit for you. My Counselling is very much about working with you as an individual so sessions will be responsive to you and what you bring. You will have space to be heard and understood; being with a Counsellor outside your usual social and family groups, allows you to talk openly in a way which may not be possible with those very close to you because you are emotionally involved with them and they with you.

I have many years of experience working with individual adults of all ages who bring a wide range of issues. Whatever the situation, in Counselling we can consider different options and explore what those look like to you. I have been a Counsellor and Assessor at Catalyst, a Guildford based drug, alcohol and well-being charity and am now a volunteer counsellor at RASASC, working with sexual abuse.

It is vital that the Counselling relationship will work for you, that you are comfortable talking to me and trust me,  To this end, I offer free 15 minute Whatsapp or Zoom calls before you book a first appointment.

Couples Counselling looks to strengthen your relationship: whether you are having particular difficulties currently or are seeking ways to deepen your connection. Sometimes Counselling can also help couples to part more easily. If you are considering Couples Counselling, both partners need to contact me directly so that I know this is what you both want, and I have permission to get in touch.

I offer affordable, flexible counselling from an upstairs room in my home which has easy parking just outside. My room is calm and quiet allowing you space to talk freely. 

For individual clients who prefer shorter sessions, there is the possibility of a one-hour initial session followed by 30-minute appointments over Zoom.

You can begin to feel comfortable talking to me and get a sense of whether my counselling will be helpful.

I will tell you a little more about how I work, and you can ask any questions you may have. We will look at what you are hoping to gain from sessions and what might have helped or hindered previously. From there I will ask for a little more background information so we can start to see whether and what support networks are in place for you. By the end of the session, we will both have a common understanding of what has brought you to Counselling and may have begun to work together.