"Welcome, my name is Karen Spencer (she/her)

I’m currently available to offer one-to-one and couples psychotherapy”

I am a fully qualified, and experienced, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and Cognitive Analytic Therapist (CAT) working in private practice in Richmond-Upon-Thames and Surrey, with wide experience working in the NHS. I also work online, and am fully trained in EMDR for helping clients manage trauma and value the importance of creating a strong and scaffolding therapeutic alliance.

I offer both short term psychotherapy and longer-term, more in-depth, psychodynamic psychotherapy depending on what would be most helpful for you at this time. I work both online and face-to-face. I also offer an initial telephone conversation (at no charge) to explore what support you are seeking and how therapy might help you.When working with couples I work to create a space whereby each partner feels heard, supported and respected. I specialise in working inter-culturally and celebrate difference and diversity.

I like to work collaboratively helping develop scaffolding to help support you when managing difficulties by creating a warm and respectful relationship that will hopefully help you to feel safe to express your feelings and concerns as openly as you can, whether working individually or as a couple. I am very committed to developing a strong therapeutic alliance and appreciate the courage that can be necessary when starting therapy. I suggest an initial consultation so that you can understand what is involved in the therapy and so we can think together about what type of therapy is most suited to where you are now and where you want to be.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is traditionally offered as a more long-term therapy (but I also offer time-limited psychodynamic psychotherapy). This work relies on the interpersonal relationship between you, the client, and me, as therapist. It is based on psychoanalytic concepts.

Cognitive Analytic Therapy

Cognitive Analytic Therapy ('CAT') is a highly collaborative form of therapy. When working together the therapy is focused around what you need, which we can think about together. Cognitive analytic therapy is normally time limited, between 6 and 24 sessions, but typically runs for 16 or 22 weekly sessions. It is highly relational and looks at the patterns you develop which may prevent you from caring for yourself as you need and making choices which enhance your life

Couples Therapy

As a couples psychotherapist, I work impartially and professionally with you both ensuring you feel equally respected, heard and validated. Fairness, equality and inclusivity are close to my heart and underpin my approach.

Are you finding it difficult to cope on your own with problems you encounter in your day-to-day living? In our lives we often need support beyond what can be offered by family and friends especially around challenges connected with:

  • anxiety

  • addiction

  • stress

  • depression

  • low self-esteem

  • loneliness

  • trauma and abuse

  • illness and chronic pain management

  • loss/separation/divorce

  • gender and sexuality issues

  • communication difficulties (e.g. assertiveness) and relationship challenges

Training, qualifications & experience

I completed my professional psychotherapy training within the NHS, having studied at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, majoring in inter-cultural psychodynamic psychotherapy, where I also completed an MSc. I am a fully qualified psychodynamic psychotherapist.

I am also a qualified Cognitive Analytic Therapist, having completed my training through the Sussex NHS Partnership and registered with ACAT (the Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy).

I am also fully trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) for trauma work

I am registered with the BPC, TSSP, ACAT and the BACP abiding by their ethical code and standards

I am a qualified trainer and HR consultant working with organisations around positive mental health, reflective practice and communication styles and assertiveness. I am also a qualified careers advisor a framework which is often helpful when working with clients and thinking about career choices and challenges within the workplace.

My work is supervised professionally by an independent qualified supervisors and I am very committed to my continuous professional development