Karen Pierce

Qualifications

MSc degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy
BA degree in Social Care

Profile
Karen is a fully qualified pre-accredited Psychotherapist and Counsellor. As a member of the IACP, Karen works according to the code of ethics set out by the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapists.
With a long-time passion for mental health, Karen believes that the stories we tell ourselves are crucial to the lives we live. Karen aims to facilitate a space where the client can begin to unpick their story and delve deeper into the beliefs which anchor their suffering. Karen believes that when the conditions are correct, including a safe and supportive relationship, a person can begin to explore this suffering with a sense of compassion and curiosity rather than fear of the unknown. It is this which Karen believes can lead to lasting change in our lives.

Approach
Karen’s work is integrative meaning she will draw on a variety of modalities depending on the needs of the client. Humanistic in focus, Karen places the individual and their intuitive knowing of the steps towards healing, at the centre of the therapy. By applying a psychodynamic lens that recognises the unconscious motivations of experience, Karen also aims to offer valuable observations that may lead to a greater degree of exploration and self-understanding.
As a social care worker, Karen has worked in mental health for over a decade including work in homelessness, addiction and prison services. Karen has an interest in alternative approaches to healing and has co-ordinated an addiction recovery project which uses creativity and yoga/meditation to support individuals in their recovery journey. As a yoga/meditation teacher herself, Karen integrates many of these principles into her therapeutic work with a particular interest in how emotional and psychological suffering is represented and explored through the body. By examining the multiple aspects of self, Karen supports the client to find a greater sense of cohesion and empowerment in their life.

Karen has experience in working with:
Anxiety
Borderline and other personality disorders
Childhood neglect, abuse or trauma
Depression
Family issues
Intergenerational trauma
Low self-esteem
Life transitions
Low motivation or direction
LGBTQ+
Panic attacks
Relationship difficulties
Self-harm
Stress
Sexual violence/trauma
Suicidal ideation

Fee €70