I'm Karen Vernon, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist
Hi, I'm Karen Vernon, and I believe effective therapy starts with deep understanding. In my private practice, I work closely with each client, taking a truly person-centered approach to fully grasp your unique challenges. Leveraging my expertise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), I'm not just a listener; I'm here to ensure you feel genuinely heard and understood.
My goal is to create a warm, friendly, and empathetic space, especially if you're feeling nervous about starting therapy. We'll collaborate at every step, easing you into the process and working together through your therapy journey. My mission is to support you in achieving your individual goals for improved mental health and lasting well-being.
My Experience
I have vast experience working with mental health in secondary services, I started my career nursing as a mental health nurse. I worked on the wards in the psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU), and then in the community as a Community Nurse Practitioner specialising in Psychosis. I now work as a specialised CBT Therapist in secondary care.
My passion is providing hope, working towards mental health recovery. I continue to work in my other role within the NHS, with continuous training, completing additional further education: PG Certs in Applied Psychotherapy and PG Dip in CBTp-bd qualified as a CBT Therapist specialising to work with Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder, alongside Depression, anxiety disorders (GAD / Health Anxiety/ Social Anxiety) Panic Disorder, OCD, Phobias and my particular passion and specialism with PTSD, C-PTSD, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
It is an absolute privilege to have worked with people from all areas of life and been rewarded with helping them challenge their difficulties to provide mental health recovery. I am a person-centred therapist, kind, caring, and compassionate. I am passionate about my work and your mental health care and recovery. I have a gentle, empathic style, I am a very good listener.
CBT | PTSD
I am experienced in working with Trauma / PTSD which is an area I have great personal interest in and specialise in with therapy. My lived experience of trauma, utilising Trauma-Focused CBT and EMDR techniques myself, offers me a unique perspective on how these can help navigate through individual difficulties toward a road to recovery.
Psychotherapy using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF-CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that is evidence-based and from research, has consistently been noted as being the most effective treatment of PTSD and C-PTSD both in the short term and long term.
CBT for PTSD is trauma-focused, meaning the trauma event(s) are the centre of the treatment.
Trauma therapy is challenging because trauma is complex and impacts various aspects of emotional, mental, and physical health.
I find working with trauma clients most rewarding, as I am privileged to have heard the most difficult times in their lives and work collaboratively with them to deal with their most inner demons, learning how to cope with what happened to them and be able to manage and improve their lives, providing hope for the future.
Qualifications & Accreditations
- BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
- PG Certs Applied Psychotherapy
- PG Dip CBTp-bd
- Trained in Motivational Interventions
- Membership Organisations:
- NMC
- BABCP
“It’s not what is wrong with you, but what happened to you”
Eleanor Longden
Let’s work together to understand this most important quote and help you learn to manage your difficulties so you can move forward with your life, no longer stuck in your mental health problems.