Karen Bray

I offer one-hour sessions (rather than the standard 50 minutes). For ongoing counselling (open-ended and fixed-term) I do charge for the initial session, but if you didn't find it helpful I would refund the fee.

Open-ended weekly counselling: £65 per hour (weekday daytimes only).

Fixed-term counselling: £65-£75 per hour (usually weekly, evening and weekend appointments available).

ONEplus counselling: £100 per package, including preparation, one-hour session and follow-up call. (evening and weekend appointments available).

Resilience Circle: a fixed package price equivalent to £30 per hour.

However stuck, anxious or confused you may feel, I know that within you is a source of guidance that knows exactly what is right for you and how to move forward. My role is to help you find that wise inner guide.

As a person-centred counsellor, I understand that we live in a culture that teaches us not to trust ourselves. To disregard our feelings, desires and distress and focus on external markers of acceptability and success. At the very least, this will eventually suck all the fun and energy out of life.

At worst, it means facing struggles and pain in isolation – often with a harsh inner critic telling us we’re getting it all wrong and have no right to feel bad or to need help.

The person-centred approach gives you back to yourself. It connects you with an inner source of healing and guidance which will help you move through the world with greater certainty, purpose, pleasure and connection.

Because it centres your unique experience – not any psychological theory or “expertise” – it is especially useful for people whose lived experience has been marginalised and discounted in dominant cultural narratives.

I am actively working to make my practice more inclusive and accessible. I affirm gender, sexuality and relationship diversity. I aim to make my service as accessible as I can – please discuss your needs with me (I work in a ground-floor counselling room).

How you can work with me:

Ongoing counselling: Usually weekly, either for a fixed number of sessions, or open-ended.

ONEplus counselling: an innovative approach designed to create meaningful change in just one session, by identifying what is blocking you from resolving an issue, then making a plan to get you unstuck.  Most people who choose it don’t need further counselling, but more sessions are available.

Resilience Circle: a combination of group learning and support with one-to-one sessions over 12 weeks, designed to give you the benefits of counselling at about half the usual hourly cost.

My primary training (FdSc Distinction in Counselling from Bath Spa University) and orientation is in the person-centred approach. This means I offer a safe and accepting therapeutic relationship which honours all your thoughts and feelings (even the ones you'd rather not have) as having a constructive purpose.

My BA (Hons) is in Integrative Counselling. So I can draw on other therapeutic models as they seem useful, particularly the solution-focused approach (clarifying a better future to work towards, rather than just dwelling on what's painful now). I bring a compassionate perspective to the self-criticism and inner conflict many clients live with.

I am currently undertaking a two-year certification training in Embodied Relational therapy which takes a decolonising perspective on our relationship with natural systems (including our own bodies) and on the experience and knowledge of marginalised people. I am also training to better work with people of diverse genders, sexuality and relationships including non-monogamy, kink and BDSM

My experience includes counselling at both residential and non-residential addiction treatment centres, and with an agency specialising in recovery from childhood trauma, abuse and neglect. I have supported people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, anger, grief, depression, low self-worth, isolation and traumatic memories to find a better emotional balance; like and understand themselves more; and feel stronger, more resourced and hopeful about the future.

I have also counselled young people aged 18 to 25, who can find a focus on the value of their inner experiencing a refreshing contrast to the "oughts" and "shoulds" that particularly plague that age group.

And, as a qualified mediator, I have a longstanding interest in supporting people to communicate more effectively and to manage anger and conflict constructively, in relationships, families, and at work.

I offer counselling in-person in central Bath, or by Zoom video link. I am also experienced in phone counselling, which can be the most appropriate format for some people.   Prior to having an initial session, we can discuss which option will be best. 

Ongoing counselling (open-ended and fixed-term): An initial session is the best way for you to get a feel of what it is like to work with me.  We'll talk about what you hope to get out of counselling,  explore some ways to achieve that, and discuss the boundaries that keep counselling safe, comfortable and confidential.  You are welcome to ask whatever you want about any aspect of the counselling. 

ONEplus counselling: When you make an initial enquiry, I'll send you a sheet with all the information you need to prepare for our session, including some reflection prompts to help us focus on what's most important.  If you decide to go ahead, we'll meet for a carefully structured 60-minute session to explore your issue and identify the next steps which will make the biggest difference. We'll create a simple action plan, and arrange for a follow-up phone call to see how things are going, and tweak the action plan if that seems helpful.

The ONEplus package is a complete service, and most people who choose it don’t need further counselling – but more sessions are available if you want them.

Resilience Circle: please contact me for details, cost and dates