Karen Bannerman, BACP

Karen Bannerman welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low mood or difficult life changes. She introduces a calm, steady presence and aims to help people find clearer ways to cope. Karen is based in the United Kingdom and brings 25 years of professional practice to her sessions.

Her approach is straightforward and conversational. She listens first, then helps clients pinpoint what matters most to them. Sessions focus on practical steps alongside understanding patterns that keep problems repeating. That mix of short-term tools and longer-term reflection is useful for worries such as relationship tension, grief, or struggles with self-esteem.

Karen draws on several well-known approaches. Client-centred work keeps the conversation directed by the person in therapy. Cognitive behavioural methods help change unhelpful thoughts and habits. Attachment-informed ways of working look at how early relationships affect current responses to stress and intimacy.

She is also familiar with issues like addiction, eating concerns, ADHD, compassion fatigue and parenting stresses, along with challenges linked to illness, ageing, adoption and blended family dynamics. The range reflects many years of varied clinical experience rather than a single specialism.

Sessions are offered online by video, phone, live chat or text messaging. People are encouraged to start by describing the practical problem they want to address, and then make a plan together with Karen to move forward.

Therapeutic approaches you can use online

Karen combines client-centred work with cognitive behavioural techniques to give both understanding and practical change. Client-centred therapy means the person’s priorities steer each session and the counsellor follows their lead to build trust and clarity. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying small behaviour changes to reduce anxiety or low mood.

She also uses attachment-informed ideas to look at how past relationships shape current patterns, which can help with intimacy issues and repeated conflicts. Together the approaches help address immediate symptoms and underlying patterns in a way that is gradual and collaborative.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Karen will discuss options with each person and adapt techniques to fit their goals and preferences. That means sessions can shift between talking, practical exercises and reflective exploration as needed.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging. Video lets people keep visual contact for a therapy-like feel. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier to fit around work. Live chat or text messaging suit shorter check-ins, ongoing support between sessions or when someone prefers written conversation. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into everyday life.