Karen Bray

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Psychotherapists and Counsellors

About the Therapist

About the therapist:

Hello, I’m Karen.

I’m a Person-Centred Integrative Counsellor, working from an Embodied-Relational perspective.

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 lifestyle experience of kink/BDSM, which interests me as an embodied-relational practice. I affirm relationship diversity including polyamory/ENM and D/s relationships. I aim to offer a safe gender-inclusive space and continue to develop my understanding of the diverse ways people experience gender and erotic connection.

As someone with a lifelong commitment to the Person-Centred Approach, I understand that we live in a Patriarchal culture that teaches us not to trust our own deep sense of who we are and what will enable us to thrive. We learn to disregard our feelings, desires and distress and focus on a few narrow, limiting external markers of success.

At the very least, this can suck all the fun and energy out of life.

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

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 prioritises 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 can work with you in person in central Bath, online or by phone. I offer ongoing counselling, usually weekly, either open-ended or for fixed number of sessions.

I also offer ONEplus counselling - an innovative approach designed to create meaningful change in just one session. This makes it both affordable and flexible. Click here for more information about ONEplus counselling.

Sexual identity:

Heterosexual
Queer

Gender identity: Female

Gender history: As assigned at birth

Non-monogamy: Yes

Intersex: No

Neurodivergent: No

Personal pronouns: she/her

Qualifications - Links to websites:

2018: FdSc (Distinction) in Counselling (Person-Centred Approach) from Bath Spa University, taught at University Centre Weston.

2022: BA (Hons) in Integrative Counselling from University of Worcester, taught at Iron Mill College, Exeter.

BACP Registered counsellor no.377807

Qualifications - Additional:

Award	Awarding body	Year of award
Embodied-Relational Therapy one-year training (full certification due 2027)	ERT Training Collective	2026
Certificate in Diversity Within Contemporary Relationships (GSRD)	NCIP Accredited (National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists)	2025-2027
Certificate in Single-Session Therapy	Temenos	2023
Coaching for Counsellors	Rowan Consultancy	2021
Moving Your Practice Online	Online Therapy Institute	2020

Experience and approach:

My primary training (FdSc, Distinction) 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 have completed the first year of a two-year certification 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.

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.

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 am a member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and work within their professional and ethical standards, including having regular supervision. I also have peer support and accountability through a member group of the IPN (Independent Practitioners Network), a non-hierarchical professional association with a radical history.

Approaches:

Focusing-oriented therapy
Humanistic
Integrative
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
Other
Person-Centred
Relational
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Walk and talk therapy

Marginalised groups:

Ace | Asexual
BDSM | Kink
Bi- | Pansexual
Consensual non-monogamy
Cross-dresser
Gay
Lesbian
Non-binary | Genderqueer
Queer
Trans

Relationship styles:

One to one

Access:

Partially wheelchair-adapted

Age ranges:

Adults
Seniors (60+)
Young adults (16-24)

Online status:

Online
In Person

My sessions are a full 60-minute hour (rather than the standard 50 minutes). 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

Fixed-package counselling: £75 per hour

ONEplus counselling: £100 per package: preparation, one-hour session and follow-up call.

The following table may help you decide which counselling option is right for you:

	ONE-PLUS	FIXED PACKAGE	ONGOING
PACKAGE STRUCTURE	A single 60-minute session, with a pre-session questionnaire and a follow-up phone call. (You will normally develop an action plan in the session).	We agree a fixed number of 60-minute sessions, usually weekly but with some flexibility around appointments	Weekly 60-minute sessions for as long as you wish. There will be a notice period for ending, so that there’s a smooth transition out of the therapeutic relationship.
FLEXIBILITY	The ONEplus package is a complete service and most people don’t need further sessions. If you would like more support, additional sessions can be booked as and when you want them. Evening and weekend appointments available	It is best if sessions are regularly spaced (usually weekly). There is some flexibility around other commitments. Evening and weekend appointments are possible. You can book another package of sessions, but the same appointment time may not be available.	We both commit to having sessions at the same time every week. If you have to miss a session I will try to offer an alternative appointment but I can’t guarantee that. I have a limited number of open-ended sessions available, and only on weekday daytimes. I usually work in-person on Tuesdays and online on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
GOALS	While you may have an overarching life goal (such as “feel more confident”), a ONEplus session has a specific objective (such as “feel OK about next week’s presentation” or “make a plan for developing confidence”)	We will establish one or two clear and realistic goals for the work, with the intention of effecting real change in the time available. This often sows seeds for further growth beyond the end of our work together.	We start with an overall goal or intention for the work, which may be precise or more general. A longer commitment allows for a more wide-ranging approach to change - goals can shift or develop over time.
APPROACH	I will be fairly directive, asking questions and keeping the session focused on moving towards your stated goal. You will gain relevant new insights which may also have a wider application. You will normally take away an action plan to move you forward.	I may draw on both focused and more discursive and reflective approaches, as appropriate to the goals and the time available.	There’s room for a more discursive and reflective exploration of your inner world. You can develop deeper insights over time. Deep-seated change emerges more organically from new self-understanding.
PAYMENT	The package fee is £100.	The fee is £75 per session.	The fee is £65 per weekly session, payable whether or not you attend.

The Barton Rooms, Bath, Somerset BA1 1HH, United Kingdom

Email: karen@karenbray.co.uk

Phone: 07587144760

Website:

https://karenbray.co.uk/