Karen Bell , BACP

Karen Bell is a UK qualified counsellor who brings nearly two decades of professional experience to her practice. She works from a person-centred framework - often called Rogerian therapy - which places a client’s feelings and needs at the heart of the work and prioritises non-judgemental listening and acceptance.

She is a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (MBACP), and her career spans roles in a GP surgery, trauma counselling for an organisation supporting people who are suicidal or who have self-harmed, and as an Occupational Health Counsellor for Northumbria Police specialising in trauma and employee assistance work. These roles have helped her develop substantial experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, bereavement and other forms of loss.

Karen regularly supports people dealing with habits and addictions, and she offers understanding and practical help to those affected by narcissistic abuse and gaslighting. Her practice welcomes people of all genders, sexualities, cultures and religions, including those with protected characteristics and neurodiverse clients such as people on the autism spectrum and those with ADHD. She works with clients to build an open, supportive space where thoughts and feelings can be explored without judgement, and she encourages anyone who is seeking a more fulfilling life to take the first step.

Counselling is offered by video, phone and chat, approaches Karen finds especially effective for many clients. This is not an emergency service - if someone cannot wait for a session they should contact the Samaritans on 116 123, the emergency services on 999 in the UK, or attend A&E.

Approaches to Attachment, Person-Centred Care, and Online Support

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on empathetic listening and creating a respectful, non-judgemental space where a person’s feelings guide the pace and direction of the work - it is often chosen by people seeking deeper self-understanding and emotional support.

Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships influence current patterns of connection and trust, helping people address issues such as intimacy difficulties, abandonment concerns, and relationship struggles by developing healthier ways of relating.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-informed approach that helps people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity, often used when someone has a history of abuse, significant loss, or other traumatic experiences.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Karen works collaboratively with clients and licensed professionals to identify which methods best match each person’s needs, goals and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as the work progresses.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, maintain continuity when circumstances change, and access support from home. These options can increase accessibility and allow therapists and clients to focus on meaningful progress together.