Karen Henderson

I graduated from the University of Dundee in 2007, receiving a post-graduate MSc diploma in Cognitive and Behavioural psychotherapy. I gained full accreditation in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy in 2009. I have worked within various National Mental Health Services, working with adolescents through to older adults, for over three decades. I have worked internationally within the Military Tri-Services, University settings and also private sector. My therapeutic work has involved treating individuals across their lifespan who have experienced: mild, moderate to severe and enduring mental health difficulties. Providing, thought through psychotherapy treatments to individuals with varied and often complex range of diagnosis (es) and psychological challenges. I am trained in a range of psychological theories and treatments; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, Transactional Analysis (TA), Psychodynamic Therapy, Person Centred Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy (ST), Mindfulness, Compassionate Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT).

I hold and practice the belief that psychotherapy works most effectively when approached in an open, collaborative, and exploratory manner. Within psychotherapy I will often explore the role of how early experience (attachment) and significant adult experiences and may interplay with our view of self, others and the world, these facilitating the influencing of patterns of feelings, behaviours and thinking, some of which can be helpful, neutral and some which, often inadvertently, not. It is my intention to listen and work with you to formulate your unique story/conceptualisation and from this tailor a line of treatment, be this a single therapeutic approach or where complexity is experienced more often a specialised concurrent, coherent, blended approach towards difficulties and treatment is required. I have an interest in working with life patterns (which may be of long-term or of a shorter /acute duration) particularly emotional, behavioural and cognitive patterns, especially patterns which, hinder people living life to their potential.