Welcome to
Karen Welch Counselling
BA (HONS) MBACP REGISTERED AND ACCREDITED
Reaching out and helping you to talk about what’s important to you.
Working Online with clients in Colchester, Clacton, Ipswich & Chelmsford, the surrounding areas of Essex Suffolk & Norfolk and across the UK.
About Me and My Approach
Feeling lost, overwhelmed, or like you should be coping better? Life might look fine on the outside, but inside, you feel exhausted, stuck, or unsure who to turn to. Maybe you’re juggling responsibilities, managing health concerns, or facing a major life transition. Perhaps you're struggling in personal and family relationships, feeling weighed down by self-doubt, or carrying the emotional load of parenting a child who is neurodivergent, has disabilities or other additional needs.
Therapy isn’t about me telling you what to do. It’s about helping you understand yourself, make sense of your feelings, and move forward in a way that works for you.
My person-centred and integrative approach means I meet you where you are, helping you make sense of your emotions, find self-acceptance, and gain clarity in your decisions. Whether it’s setting boundaries without guilt, navigating grief, or simply feeling calmer, therapy gives you the space to understand yourself without pressure or judgment.
For over ten years, I’ve supported people through life’s toughest moments - whether that’s trauma, bereavement, or emotional overwhelm. I’ve worked with Victim Support, Women’s Refuge, and the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity, helping people feel heard and understood. I know how easy it is to put yourself last, but you deserve support too.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Reaching out for therapy can feel daunting, but you don’t have to work it all out alone. If any of this resonates, let’s have a chat. Get in touch today to arrange a free consultation - no pressure, no expectations - just a safe space to talk.
SPEAK IN CONFIDENCE
Working from my office in Colchester, sessions take place online where you can meet with me in a safe space. I will listen with compassion, sensitivity and empathy - and without judgement. In the online therapy space thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely and in confidence. Where else in our everyday lives can we find such a space.
A PROBLEM SHARED...
Feeling anxious and overwhelmed with the stresses of everyday life, feeling like you are failing at what seems like everything, making you doubt yourself all the time. Having difficulty with a relationship, family issues or work problems; Experiencing anxiety or panic attacks; mood swings or depression; loneliness or low self esteem; Are you living with chronic illness, disability and pain; or are you going through a Bereavement or loss?
You are not alone. Many people face difficulties in their everyday lives that can be hard to get on top of. Therapy gives us a set of tools we can use to help gain a better understanding of what is causing these problems - and how you can move towards managing or resolving them.
I also work with parents caring for children who are neurodivergent, have disabilities or other additional needs. This can feel like a constant emotional load - advocating for support, managing daily challenges, and trying to hold everything together. You may feel torn between doing everything for your child and wondering where you fit into it all.
Many parents I work with struggle with:
Feeling exhausted and stretched too thin
Guilt about not doing enough (even though they do so much)
Grieving the parenting experience they imagined
Feeling like no one truly understands their situation
It’s okay to acknowledge this loss—it doesn’t mean you love your child any less. Therapy gives you a space to offload, process your emotions, and learn how to support yourself - without guilt - helping you to cope better and enjoy a different parent experience.
MAKE BETTER, HEALTHIER NEW CHOICES
Working together I can help you gain greater insight into the difficulties you are facing, help you understand why you act or react to them the way you do, and see how you can start to make better, healthier choices moving forward.
CONTACT ME
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial no obligation free of charge 20-minute Telephone Consultation. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of talking to a therapist and how best I can help. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
You can contact me by completing the contact form below or by calling or texting me on 07889 374881. Please do leave a voicemail if I am unable to take your call and I will get back to you the same day within my normal working hours.
Online Therapy
I know how busy you are and how hard it is to make time for yourself. That's why I offer online and telephone therapy. It means you don't have to travel to Colchester for appointments and you can fit them in around your work or family commitments. It's also convenient if you have mobility issues or experience social anxiety. All you need to do is find a quiet and confidential space where you won't be disturbed.
Sessions and Prices
When you first make contact with me I will reply the same working day within my normal working hours. I will then offer you a no obligation free of charge 20-minute telephone consultation at a mutually convenient time to explain how I work and to give you further information on the process of therapy and to see how best I can help. It also gives you a chance to ask any questions that you might have. I am open to answering your questions during this call and throughout your therapy sessions.
Thereafter Online Therapy Sessions via Zoom or via the Telephone are £50 per session (50 mins)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long a period of Therapy lasts will vary from person to person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. For some people a short term approach of 6 to 8 sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach.
After the initial telephone consultation I will offer a first appointment – known as an initial assessment – within a week. Sessions are usually on a weekly or fortnightly basis, depending on your therapy needs which we will have discussed in the initial telephone consultation. Therapy usually takes place on the same day and time each week or fortnight, however I understand that this may not work for you and there are circumstances where sessions can be tailored to meet your individual needs.
Everything that is said within the online therapy room is private - this is one of the main ways therapy differs from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly or fortnightly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.
Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and usually only happens after the person concerned has been informed. Further information can be found in my GDPR and Privacy Policy which you will be given a copy of and you also can ask me any further questions if you are still unsure.
Usually I am asked this question by people who are nervous about entering into therapy, or when they are looking for support in coming to see a therapist. This anxiety is understandable, but a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel free to talk about any issues you feel are important to you. Having someone else with you who can be connected to those issues makes this opening-up more difficult, so for this reason I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family with the exception of couple therapy. I understand that reaching out and asking for help doesn't always feel easy and most clients will have some anxiety around this but what clients say to me is that once they have taken this first step they feel a great sense of relief. I will always set the pace of the therapy sessions at a level which works best for you and your situation.
LATEST BLOG
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Mental Health Awareness Week is the 12th to 18th May and is fast approaching.
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