Karen Esser

Hi, my name is Karen and I’m a counsellor & psychotherapist based in Crystal Palace, SE19, working with adult individuals, face to face or online. Finding a therapist that feels like a good ‘fit’ for you is an important choice.

I trained in the Person Centred approach at the Metanoia Institute in Ealing and hold a Diploma and a BA Hons in Person Centred Counselling.

I am registered with the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). This means that I have chosen to commit to working within the BACP Ethical Framework and so will always strive to offer a safe and ethical practice. I aim to ensure that the principles set out in this Framework underpin my work.

I attend regular supervision and training workshops to ensure that I keep on top of my own personal development and learning.

Further qualifications include a BA Hons in Social Anthropology which I completed at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Prior to this I studied the Montessori method and qualified as a Nursery Teacher at the Montessori Centre International Training College on Balderton Street, London.

I have over 10 years experience of working with clients, initially at the Metanoia Counselling & Psychotherapy Service in Ealing and also at the Awareness Centre in Clapham, delivering time limited sessions on the NHS and seeing a range of clients privately. Some of the areas I have experience working with are:

Bereavement, loss, anxiety, depression, addictions, bullying, sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts, self-esteem issues, social anxiety, trauma, miscarriage, post-natal depression, struggles around parenthood, lack of meaning or purpose in life, relationship problems, issues around culture and identity.

What is counselling?

There are a number of resources I’d recommend if you are interested in learning more and deepening your understanding of what counselling is:

• the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy)
• the Counselling Directory .

I trained as a person centred counsellor. This training sits within the ‘humanistic’ and ‘talking therapies’.  It’s pioneer and founding father was a Mr Carl Rogers.

This approach fundamentally places the client as the expert of their own experience.  The counsellor endeavours to offer an authentic, empathic and non judgemental space for a client to explore what is on their mind.  This might sound simple, but in practice, it is an on going process and practice that requires dedication and focus.

In such an environment, over time, clients begin to feel empowered, have increasing access to a wider range of emotions, self awareness and acceptance. This leads to a better relationship with self and how they might relate to and experience what was previously a struggle or even unbearable.

Some books by Carl Rogers:

‘On becoming a Person’

‘A Way of Being’

Some of my other favourite books by other authors, that are accessible and not too dense, and have provided much joy, laughter and insight include:

‘Love’s Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy’ by Irvin Yalom

‘The Gift of Therapy’ by Irvin Yalom

‘Teach us to Sit Still’ by Tim Parks

‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl

What’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

The two are used interchangeably. Some therapy folk feel very strongly about the difference, others don’t.

What you will come across and in general counselling refers to short term work and psychotherapy to longer term and more in depth work.

I don’t feel strongly about the difference. What I can offer is both and as a person centred therapist, I will always be guided by you as the client.