Karin Usher MBACP
Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist
Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming, especially when you're dealing with anxiety, trauma, or struggling with confidence. It's important that you feel comfortable, respected, and understood. My aim is to create a space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement.
I work with people who are dealing with a range of challenges — from anxiety and overthinking to low self-worth, relationship patterns, and the effects of past trauma. Whether you're trying to understand why you always put others first or working through the impact of childhood neglect, I'm here to support you.
My Approach to Therapy
Trauma-Informed and Integrative
My approach to therapy is integrative and centred around your unique needs. Everyone's experience is different, so I draw from a range of approaches to support you in a way that feels safe, respectful, and meaningful for you. My work is trauma-informed, which means I recognise how past experiences can shape the way we think, feel, and relate to others. Depending on what feels most helpful for you, our work may include:
- Psychoeducation: Helping you understand why your brain and body respond the way they do.
- Somatic Awareness: Exploring how emotions show up in the body.
- Parts Work (IFS-informed): Helping you gently explore different parts of yourself — including the ones that feel anxious, protective, or overwhelmed — so they can be understood rather than fought against.
- Mindfulness: Building awareness of your thoughts and feelings without judgement.
- Trauma Processing: Gently working through past experiences, through evidence-based techniques, that still affect your present.
- ACT/CBT (when appropriate): Developing practical skills to manage distress and make meaningful changes.
Our work together will focus on helping you understand yourself better, rather than forcing change. You'll be encouraged to move at your own pace, building self-compassion and resilience along the way.
Why I Do This Work
Therapy isn't just my profession — it's something I'm genuinely passionate about. I know how overwhelming anxiety can feel because I've been there myself. For a long time, I struggled with severe anxiety, often feeling trapped and unable to leave the house. It wasn't an easy journey, but through therapy and a lot of self-reflection, I found ways to rebuild my life. That experience taught me how transformative the right support can be, and it's a big part of why I chose to become a therapist.
I don't share this to make it about me, but to let you know that I understand what it's like to feel stuck. It's also why I'm committed to creating a safe, compassionate space where you can explore your own challenges without judgement. Therapy helped me reconnect with myself and find a way forward, and I believe it can do the same for you.
My Commitment to Supporting Women
I have a deep commitment to supporting women who have experienced childhood abuse, sexual trauma, or neglect. These experiences can shape how safe you feel in the world, how you relate to others, and how you see yourself. Therapy can offer a space where those experiences can be explored gently, at your own pace, without pressure or judgement.
Working through the impact of trauma takes courage. My approach is trauma-informed and grounded in empathy, focusing on helping you rebuild a sense of safety, self-trust, and self-compassion.
Whether you're beginning to explore what happened or looking for ways to move forward after carrying these experiences for many years, therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and feel more in control of your life. We will move at a pace that feels safe for you.
Many of the women I work with are exploring how early experiences still influence their confidence, boundaries, and relationships today.
My Experience and Qualifications
I hold a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, and I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I adhere to their code of ethics and am committed to continuous professional development (CPD) to ensure my practice remains effective and informed.
I am committed to helping people address a wide range of challenges, offering support that is compassionate, practical, and tailored to your unique situation. I have developed my practice with a focus on creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. My experience includes supporting people with:
- Anxiety and Overthinking
- Low Confidence and Self-Worth
- Relationship Issues and Unhelpful Patterns
- Trauma and Childhood Neglect
- Sexual Trauma
- Boundaries and People Pleasing
My practice is inclusive and welcoming, respecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of each person I work with.
What to Expect
Therapy is about building trust and working together to make sense of what you're experiencing. You won't be pushed to share more than you feel comfortable with, and we'll move at a pace that feels right for you. Whether we're exploring past trauma, building confidence, or understanding relationship patterns, our sessions will focus on finding practical ways to move forward.
My clients often tell me that therapy has helped them feel more in control, less overwhelmed, and more connected to themselves. I believe that by understanding your story and recognising your strengths, you can build the life you want — one step at a time.