Karen Hodgson

I am a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and EMDR UK/Europe Consultant with 26 years' experience working with adults and couples. 

I was originally trained in person-centred therapy, which continues to underpin my work. This means I offer a warm, collaborate, and non-judgemental space, where we can work together to explore your experiences at your own pace.

I apply an integrative approach, combining EMDR (including attachment-informed EMDR) with hypno/psychotherapy, Brainspotting, EFT, mindfulness and IFS-informed techniques.

Whilst EMDR is central to my work and supports the reprocessing of difficult experiences, it is complemented by others psychotherapeutic approaches I use to support emotional processing, regulation and insight. Attachment-informed EMDR combines traditional EMDR with a focus on how early relationships have shaped your emotional patterns and sense of safety. It may help reprocess past experiences, strengthen your ability to form secure relationships, and reduce patterns rooted in attachment difficulties. 

Hypno/psychotherapy can be helpful in helping to access deeper emotional patterns, beliefs and responses that are influencing your behaviour and feelings, using guided imagery, relaxation and imagery and mindfulness techniques. to help you access deeper emotional patterns.

Brainspotting is considered to helpful by accessing deeper emotional experiences held in the body and brain. It may be particularly useful when words are hard to find, allowing processing to happen in a more natural, less verbal way and supporting a sense of relief and regulation. 

EFT combines gentle tapping on specific points on the body with focused attention on thoughts and emotions. It may help reduce emotional intensity, calm the nervous system, and make difficult feeling easier to process. 

Being IFS-informed means I work with different "parts"of you - such as the inner critic, the protector or the wounded child - to understand their roles and help them communicate more effectively. This may reduce internal conflict, promote self-compassion, and support lasting emotional healing.

I work with clients experiencing a wide range of concerns, including:

• Trauma & PTSD (single-event or complex trauma)
• Anxiety, panic, and low mood
• Fear of Flying
• Irritable Bowel
• Relationship challenges and attachment issues
• Attachment Issues
• Patterns such as people-pleasing, self-sabotage, or procrastination.
• Addictions and unwanted habits
• Stress-related physical symptoms
• Phobias and fears
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Chronic pain experiences and pain-related distress
• Grief, loss,, and life transitions
• Issues with anger
• Emotional regulation difficulties, anger, or overwhelm. 
• Trust, betrayal, or infidelity issues.
• Couples'/relationship therapy 
• Psycho-sexual therapy 
• Stop smoking

Maybe you are reassessing your life right now and need more clarity?
Maybe you are experiencing more longstanding or reoccurring concerns that seem to loop? Together we can explore the things you want to change and address any blockages that are getting in the way.

Session Format

I work online via a secure video platform, providing therapy from the comfort of your own space. You will you need a laptop/PC or an IPhone, a safe sand confidential space to work from, a device with a microphone and camera and a stable internet.

How do I book an first appointment?

You can arrange a free 15 mins introductory call or send me a brief email outlining your main presenting issue(s).

If we both agree to work online together, the next step would be to arrange a first appointment.

What happens in a first session? 

In our initial sessions, I will take history to understand your experiences, patterns and challenges. We will explore what has brought you to therapy, what you hope to change, and what you would like to achieve. This helps us to form a treatment plan. We will:

• Discuss your goals -what you hope to change or achieve in therapy
• Explore your history - relevant life experiences, relationships, and patterns that may be affecting you now.
• Identify current challenges and beliefs - including any "blocking" beliefs that may be keeping you stuck
• Review practical considerations - such as current medications, medical history, or other support you are receiving. 
• Start thinking about change for the future - imagining what it would be like if some of your issues were resolved

Sessions are collaborative, with regular check-ins. Theres no pressure to continue if it doesn't feel like the right fit for both of us. 

What is the duration of each session?

The session duration is 50 minutes held via an online platform.

How long have I been in private practice?

I have been working in private practice since 2000.

What is the differences between a Hypnotherapist and a Hypno/Psychotherapist? 

A hypnotherapist primarily uses hypnosis for specific goals or habit change.

A hypno/psychotherapist, like myself, combines hypnosis with psychotherapy to explore deeper patterns and support emotional processing and lasting change. This approach is often integrated with other modalities (like EMDR, Brainspotting, or EFT). UKCP-Registered Psychotherapist length of training typically is 3-5 years with deep understanding of psychological theory, clinical practice, trauma, attachment, ethics, and long term psychotherapy skills.

Q. Why use an Hypno/Psychotherapist rather than a Hypnotherapist?

The advantage of working with a qualified Hypno/Psychotherapist could be that it combines the skills and training of a Psychotherapist who also has additional training in hypnosis.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is considered to be a natural, focused state of attention and relaxation where your mind becomes more open to guidance and suggestion. While in this state, you remain fully aware and in control, but your mind and body are more receptive to accessing thoughts, memories, and emotions in a calm, safe way. It can be used to:-

• Support stress reduction and relaxation
• Explore underlying patterns of thought and behaviour 
• Help with habit change or emotional regulation

Hypnosis is not mind control - you cannot be made to do anything against your will, and you are fully conscious and in control throughout the process. It is not a state of deep sleep but an altered state of awareness. 

How does hypnosis work?

It is considered that hypnosis works by switching off the analytical left hand side of the brain, so that the non-analytical right hand side of the brain can become more alert. Whilst your mind is in an enhanced state of awareness, you will be concentrating entirely on the therapist's voice. In this state, the conscious mind is suppressed and the subconscious mind in revealed. When the mind is relaxed, this allows ideas, concepts, lifestyle adaptions and active thoughts or post hypnotic suggestions to be placed in your mind, i.e. the seeds towards positive change. These suggestions are specific to the goals you created for your therapy.

Q Do I work with smoking cessation?

Yes. This starts with a one hour initial consultation before we engage in any quit smoking hypnosis session(s).

Q. What are my code of Ethics

Psychotherapists must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Practice.

I am a member of the:-

• National Register of Hypnotherapists & Psychotherapists (NRHP)
• Fellow of the National Council for Hypno/Psychotherapists, (NCHP, 2004); (FNCHP, 2011)
• National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (NCHP)
• Registered member of the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP) (Hyp)
• EMDR UK/Europe Association (Consultant)

Q. How is my work supervised?

As part of working ethically within the Code of Ethics I engage in monthly supervision with 2 separate supervisors. 

Q. What led in to train as a Psychotherapist?

In the 1980's I was working as a lecturer and developed a keen interest in the emotional and personal challenges students were facing. Supporting them sparked my curiosity about counselling and human behaviour, and led me to explore psychotherapy as a career by commencing my counselling training and studying a Degree in Psychology 

After qualifying as a person-centred counsellor, I developed a deeper interest in how client's presenting issues can create ripple effects within the family system, and how these patterns continue to influence relationships when families blend or merge. This curiosity and focus on relational dynamics inspired me to train as a couples' therapist so I could better support clients in navigating these complex interactions.  

My background in psychodynamic theory and family system has given me a deep understanding of the subconscious mind and how it shapes our behaviours, beliefs, and relationships. This insight sparked my interest in exploring and training in complementary modalities that work with both the mind and body, supporting deeper emotional processing and lasting change. 

Q. My Personal Philosophy?

My work is guided by respect, compassion, patience and empathy. I believe in providing appropriate challenge alongside support helping you develop sself awareness and insight. you are at the centre of the process, and my aim is to encourage, guide, and hold a safe space for you to explore your experiences, patterns, and growth. 

People generally seek out psychotherapy with a need to alleviate some current, on-going stressors, change behaviour and/or to address the root of a problem. The therapy will essentially assess where you are now in relation to what you want to achieve, formulate specific and realistic goals, and facilitate the process of you achieving these goals, finding a more satisfying pathway. The aim is to to put you (the client) in touch with yourself so that you can make the necessary changes towards realising your own power and potential. Therefore the therapist is responsible to and not for you. This means that the work is collaborative, and you remain in charge of your own journey and at the centre of your own change. 

• Dental Anxiety
• Fear of driving
• Fear of driving on motorways
• Fear of bridges
• Eating disorders
• Addictions and co-dependency
• Trauma/PTSD
• Phobias
• General Counselling
• EMDR as an adjunct with hypnosis, or as a stand alone therapy
• Brainspotting
• EFT

• All sessions start with an Initial Consultation.
• The cost of all initial consultations for individuals is £100 for up to 50 mins session. This is a history taking session which provides an opportunity to generate some understanding and explore further your presenting issue(s).

Confidentiality and Cancellation clause

Confidentiality:-

I fully comply with UK professional standards and data protection laws regarding your personal information. Everything you share in therapy is confidential, and I only store or use information necessary for your care. Notes are kept securely, and I do not share your details without your explicit consent - except in the rare legal situations where there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else. In these rare circumstances I may need to disclose certain confidential information in your best interest and/or that of others. I will however, endeavour to speak with you first before sharing any personal or sensitive information, unless there is a legal or safety requirement that prevents this. 

Cancellations:-

My cancellation policy is a model of working that sets clear boundaries and creates safety within the therapeutic relationship.

Implementing a late cancellation and no show fee is an important point in the broader scope of the work we do together.

Therapy, irrespective of modality, appears to be most helpful to those who see their therapy as a valuable and important component of their lives, recognising that cancelling, not attending or extending long intervals in-between sessions without prior discussion, can negatively impact the therapeutic process.

Other than in an absolute emergency situation, I kindly ask that you provide up to 48 hours notice between Mon-Fri, 9 am to 5 pm, to cancel a session, even if you reschedule your session.

In circumstances where the notice is less than 48 hours during these stipulated times, you will be asked to pay in full for the missed session.

How can payment be made?

Payments are made via:-

Bank Transfer (Details will be provided after booking an appointment)