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Home Counsellors Karen Spilsbury
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Karen Spilsbury, NCPS

Credentials
NCPS
Experience
8 years
Practising in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Sessions
Online only
Client ages
Adults, 18 and over

Works with Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemCoping with life changes

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Karen Spilsbury is a counsellor with eight years of professional experience practising in the United Kingdom. She focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, cope with addictions, and process trauma and abuse. Karen also supports work on self-esteem and adapting to life changes.

She uses straightforward, collaborative conversations to help people move forward. Her approach treats the client as the expert in their own life. Sessions aim to identify strengths and build practical skills for day-to-day life.

Background and approach

Karen combines talking therapy with exercises that encourage small, steady steps towards what matters to the client. She draws on a range of methods to suit different needs, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, client-centred ways of working, and hypnotherapy. These are applied in clear, simple ways rather than complex jargon.

The focus is on manageable tools that can be used between sessions. Karen aims to create an open, non-judgemental space where people can talk through difficult experiences and test out new ways of coping. She pays attention to attachment and abandonment concerns, codependency, communication and control issues, and the effects of domestic violence and separation.

She also has experience supporting those affected by disaster and by neurodiversity such as autism and Asperger Syndrome. Practical matters such as motivation and building confidence are included alongside emotional work. Karen encourages realistic goals and offers steady support while people try new strategies in their everyday lives.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful patterns of thought and focus on actions that match their values. It is often used for anxiety, stress and coping with major life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, known as CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical skills to reduce distress and change behaviour. CBT can be helpful for anxiety, addictions and low mood. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, offers skills for emotion regulation, tolerating distress and improving communication, which can support people dealing with intense emotions and relationship struggles.

Choosing an approach is part of the work and will be decided together. The therapist will discuss what feels useful, try techniques in session, and adjust the plan according to the client’s needs and goals. This collaborative process helps match methods to the practical problems the person wants to address.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and exercises that use visual aids. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat or messaging suits brief check-ins or people who prefer writing things out. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit around daily life.
What concerns does Karen focus on?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and straightforward, using talking, practical exercises and small steps to help people change.
How much experience does she have?
She has eight years of professional experience working with a range of emotional and behavioural concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds NCPS and practices in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients supported?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

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Experience
8 years
Registered with
NCPS
Languages
English

Contacting Karen

Karen takes enquiries through BetterHelp. You answer a few questions about what you are looking for, then arrange sessions if it seems like a fit. Browsing costs nothing and you are not committing to anything by reading this page.

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