About Me
I'm Karyna, a counsellor based in Torquay, South Devon.
I have an overwhelming need to help people and, if I could, I would have adopted at least half of my clients, plus my kids friends, and I would have about 100 rescue dogs!
Before training as a counsellor I worked as a lawyer - a career I chose because I wanted to give a voice to those that did not have one. After many years in law I did not feel that I was helping people as much as I could and retrained to become a counsellor.
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I naturally have a positive outlook on life and believe that anyone with the right help, support and encouragement can turn their lives around and make healthier life choices and be in control of their own destiny. I believe we are all products of what we have been told (“you won’t amount to anything”, “no one will love you”, “You’re fat or ugly”) and that through counselling these negative thoughts that have been thrust upon us can be changed and a new version of you can evolve.
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Having lived with trauma, I have had personal counselling around this and have first hand experience of how counselling can help. Trauma and trauma responses can develop as a child and go with a person into adulthood. Through counselling you can work out what their trauma is and how it has affected them and how it continues to affect them. For many, counselling is the only place that they have felt understood, listened to and felt in a place that the patterns of behaviour can be changed, enabling them to live a happier and fuller life as a result of counselling.
I enjoy listening to people’s life stories and feeling that I can have helped to make a difference to them.
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I have two grown up boys, and was a single mother for a long time. I've been married and divorced. I absolutely love animals and I have two rescue dogs who I absolutely adore. My family is very important to me, I spend as much time as possible with my boys and parents and enjoy being with my friends. I also enjoy swimming, paddleboarding or walking my dogs.
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My Experience and Qualifications
I am a volunteer therapist with local Charity, Children and Families in Grief, and I have been involved with them since around 2012 (initially as treasurer, then as a trustee and now as a volunteer therapist).
I like to help others and, although I knew as treasurer and trustee I was helping, I felt that I wanted to be more involved with the families directly. So I resigned as treasurer and trustee and became a volunteer therapist where I felt I was able to offer direct help.
I completed my placement hours and alongside my work as a therapist in Torbay, I now volunteer with CentrePeace, which is a local charity based in Paignton. They are drop in centre for local people, the counselling element of the centre offers the opportunity, time and space to explore and work through problematic life experiences in a supportive and safe, professional environment.
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My Qualifications include:
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Advanced Diploma in Counselling
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Domestic Abuse Workshop
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Working with Grief and Bereavement
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Safeguarding Children and Adults
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Child Protection
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Mental Health & Wellbeing
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Healthy Relationships & Respect
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Developing Confidence
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Emotional Resilience
Continued Professional Development
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Working with Narcissism
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The Fallout of Narcissistic Abuse
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Trauma and Attachment Wounds
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Finding Meaning in Loss
I can help with...
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Grief, Berevement and Loss
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Personal Crisis and Major Life Change
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Domestic Abuse/Fear
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Narciccistic, Controlling or Manipulative Relationships
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Depression
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Anxiety and Stress
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Low Self-Esteem or Low Confidence
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Bullying
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Sexual Abuse
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Addiction
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Anger Management
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Health related issues
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Couple/relationship issues
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Trauma/Childhood Trauma/Attachment
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Integrative Therapy - Person Centred/Gestalt/CBT