Karen Bell, BACP

Karen Bell is a UK-based counsellor with 18 years of experience. She works in a person-centred way and places the client’s feelings and needs at the heart of each session. Karen is a member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists - BACP.

Her background includes work in a GP surgery and as a trauma counsellor supporting people who have experienced child sexual abuse, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She has also provided occupational health counselling for a police force, focusing on stress and trauma. These roles shaped her experience with anxiety, depression, bereavement and workplace-related strain.

Karen offers practical, straightforward support for people dealing with addictions, relationship strain, grief, sleep or eating difficulties, and challenges to self-esteem. She also helps people who face identity-related concerns including LGBT issues, ADHD and neurodiversity. She welcomes clients regardless of gender, culture, religion or protected characteristic.

Her approach is warm and non-judgemental. Sessions aim to make space for what matters to the client, and to build understanding at a manageable pace. Karen pays attention to attachment patterns and how these affect current relationships.

People who have experienced narcissistic abuse or gaslighting are invited to talk about their experiences and find ways to rebuild trust in themselves. Conversations may include thinking about practical coping skills, looking at unhelpful thought patterns, and working through traumatic memories when that feels right.

Karen offers counselling by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging. She encourages anyone unsure where to start to reach out and describe their needs so together they can plan the next step.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds affect current relationships and emotional reactions. Online work can help people notice patterns and try different ways of relating in day-to-day life. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the client's experience and priorities, offering a non-judgemental space where the person leads the pace and topics of talk. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, involves spotting unhelpful thinking and testing small changes to behaviour that can ease anxiety or low mood.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Karen will collaborate with each person to decide which methods suit their needs, goals and preferences. That choice can change over time as progress is assessed together and different techniques are introduced when useful.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when movement is needed, live chat suits shorter check-ins and text messaging lets people reflect between sessions. These options make it easier to fit counselling around work, caring duties and daily life while keeping therapy consistent and accessible.