Karen Aspden
BSc (Hons), MBACP, Dip.Integrative Counsellor 

https://www.figtreetherapypractice.co.uk

My name is Karen Aspden and I am an independent qualified Integrative Counsellor working with adults aged 18 and over. I work with both individuals and couples face to face and online. I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), one of the UK’s national accrediting bodies. I am integratively trained, which means I draw from the humanistic, person-centred, psychodynamic, cognitive and systemic approaches. I tailor the work to each client's needs and circumstances rather than offering a 'one size fits all' approach. I work collaboratively and at your pace to help you explore and make sense of what brings you to counselling. I believe that understanding is the first step towards making the changes we want in life, and that you know what is best for you. I can help you develop strategies and skills to manage issues and to find a positive way forward.

I have experience working with many different issues, including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and trauma. However, I specialise in bereavement and loss, in particular; perinatal loss, fertility and reproductive trauma including pregnancy loss, high-risk pregnancies, infertility and involuntary childlessness amongst others. These experiences can leave us with low self-esteem, anxiety, complex grief and a sense of disconnection from the world and others. Whilst I can't walk in your shoes, I can walk alongside you and try to understand what it might feel like for you. 

"When we have the courage to walk into our own story and own it, we get to write the ending" Brené Brown

What do I think are the key benefits of talking therapy?

·    Gaining a better understanding of yourself.

·    Learning to set healthy boundaries.

·    Identifying triggers that that lead to unhelpful patterns of behaviour.

·    Improving how we relate to others in relationships.

·    Making sense of past trauma.

·    Building up self-esteem.

·    Providing relief from feelings of anxiety and stress.

What do I offer?

Individual Counselling 

I draw on different approaches and theoretical models to work on the issues you might wish to explore. We can work together, and challenge old ways of thinking in a safe and non-judgemental environment. Perhaps you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or maybe you're going through the motions in life and feel stuck, but you can't make sense of why. Whatever might bring you to therapy, our work together will aim to help you find clarity and insight to allow you to make the changes in your life you want.

Infertility Counselling

I specialise in working with the complex issues of infertility and reproductive trauma and have completed The Foundation Training Course for Counsellors working in Licensed Treatment Centres and Related Settings with BICA (British Infertility Counselling Association) I have experience in working with clients, couples who have undergone/undergoing fertility treatment, or having experienced perinatal loss such as miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy and pregnancy complications to name a few.

Couples Counselling  

In Couples counselling it is important to recognise that we all evolve as people and that relationships are fluid and change over time. Resentments can build up, or communication may break down, and counselling can open a supportive space in which to explore unresolved issues. I use a systemic and psychodynamic approach to couples work which means that we work collaboratively to uncover communication and behavioural patterns which may be problematic. We might also look for the history of these patterns both in the couple and each partner.  Understanding is the most powerful precursor to change. I have worked with clients experiencing a multitude of issues including attachment and commitment problems, miscommunication, intimacy issues, divorce, separations, sexual problems, loss, affairs, domestic violence, and stepfamily issues.

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Qualifications:

• Diploma in Integrative Counselling - BACP Accredited Course

• Completing Post Graduate Level 5 Couples Counselling course with RELATE in Relational Counselling - CPCAB Accredited

• Counselling Relationships Affected by High Functioning Autism: Understanding and Working with Neurodiversity

• I completed my area of specialist research in - Does Fertility and Reproductive Trauma lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and How can Therapists better understand the impact of Reproductive Trauma?

• Member of BICA, (the British Infertility Counselling Association) Member No M100201 and working towards accreditation.

• Member of The Donor Conception Network and The Fertility Network.

• Completion of BICA Foundation Course for Infertility Counselling CPCAB Accredited and scheduled to complete the BICA Advanced Course in a couple of months.

• CRUSE Bereavement and have worked with them as a Bereavement Support Volunteer since 2020. I have worked with many issues related to loss and bereavement, including those affected by sudden death trauma and the suicide of a partner or loved one. Individual training including Bereavement Foundation Course, Safeguarding, Induction, and Trauma Awareness.

• I am strongly committed to continuing professional development and regularly attend conferences and training events.

I hold an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS). This means I work in accordance with professionally recognised standards. I have full Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance and have regular supervision.