Karen Lawrence
BACP Accredited Counsellor & Supervisor
Member of ATSAC
ACTO Professional Register
Individual, Couples & Family Counselling,
Sex Addiction & Problematic Pornography Use (PPU) Services Online and Face-To-Face in Bangor Co Down N.I.
Welcome to relating2others
UNDERSTANDING IS THE KEY: THE HEART OF EFFECTIVE THERAPY
With over 30 years of specialist clinical counselling experience, Karen Lawrence (relating2others) offers professional and confidential counselling and psychotherapy services for individuals, couples and families across Northern Ireland, the UK and Ireland. Based in Bangor, Co. Down, Karen provides both in-person counselling and online therapy sessions via Zoom or WhatsApp for clients who prefer to connect remotely.
Karen specialises in Couples Counselling including LGBTQ+ couples, Individual Therapy, Family Counselling and the treatment of Compulsive Sexual behaviour Disorder (CSBD) sometimes described as Sex Addiction and Problematic Pornography Use (PPU). She also provides therapy and support for partners affected by sexual compulsivity and problematic pornography use helping couples navigate the difficult challenges of rebuilding trust, emotional connection and intimacy after betrayal or addiction.
As an Accredited Counsellor and Specialist Supervisor with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), Karen is also a Member of the Association for the Treatment of Sex Addiction and Compulsivity (ATSAC), and holds a Level 3 Professional Register of Association of Counselling and Telephone Online (ACTO). Her qualifications include a Relate Certificate in Couple Counselling, an Advanced Diploma in Family Counselling and a Certificate in Sex Addiction and PPU/Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder .
Karen's therapeutic approaches integrates several evidence-based models, including Psychodynamic Therapy (understanding the unconscious), Systemic Therapy (exploring relational patterns and environment) and Attachment and Trauma-Informed Therapy, grounded in Polyvagal Theory. When working with couples, she focuses on uncovering the 'couple fit'- the unique dynamics that underpin each relationship. For clients dealing with sex addiction or PPU, Karen applies the OAT model (Opportunity, Attachment and Trauma) to address underlying causes and promote lasting recovery.
Karen offers flexible appointments times during the daytime and evening, Monday to Thursday. Her compassionate and structured approach helps clients explore the root cause of their difficulties, develop self-awareness, and find healthier ways to relate to themselves and others.
Karen understands that reaching out for counselling can feel daunting. Many people delay seeking help, hoping issues will resolve on their own or by talking with friends and family. However, without professional insight, these solutions are often temporary. Taking the step to begin therapy can be the start of a more permanent and positive change.
To begin your journey, you can book an initial assessment appointment by arranging a free 10-15 minute consultation call (Monday- Friday) to discuss your situation and how therapy can help.
What to Expect from Counselling
Whether you attend counselling in person in Bangor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, or choose online therapy via Zoom or WhatsApp, you will find a safe, supportive and confidential environment where you can explore personal or relational challenges at your own pace.
Many people come to counselling expecting to be told what they are doing wrong-this is not the case. Karen provides a warm, non-judgemental, impartial therapeutic space where you can speak freely and begin to make sense of what is happening in your life. Her goal is to help you gain understanding, clarity, and emotional balance, not to judge or criticise.
Your first session will take the form of an initial assessment where Karen will help you explore what has brought you to therapy, what you are experiencing and what you hope to achieve. Together, we will look at both current concerns and past experiences, helping you identify patterns and build a shared understanding of your needs.
During this process Karen will explain her approach to counselling-which may include psychodynamic, systemic, attachment, or trauma-informed models-and discuss how these may be applied to your situation. This collaborative approach helps to map out how you might begin at address the issues and move forward towards positive change whether that means emotional stability, more satisfying relationships, or, ending a relationship with less acrimony, hurt and pain so that you can recover faster.
Karen understands that therapy needs to be affordable and flexible, so session length, scheduling and budget can all be discussed openly. There is no obligation to continue after the initial session. What matters most is that you need to leave feeling heard, understood and supported, having a meaningful experience that can help you decide whether to continue your therapeutic journey.
Can Counselling Help- and Does it Change Lives?
The simple answer is yes. Counselling can be life changing. At the Heart of Effective Therapy lies understanding-and when you feel truly understood, meaningful change becomes possible.
Whether you choose in-person counselling in Bangor, Co. Down or online therapy via Zoom or WhatsApp, professional counselling can help most people, most of the time, with most problems. It is proven to relieve stress, improve emotional wellbeing, and create lasting positive change in relationships and personal life.
Karen focuses on building an excellent working relationship with every client-this therapeutic alliance builds the foundation for growth and transformation. Through a supportive collaborative process, therapy helps you:
Step back and gain perspective-to see the bigger picture rather than feeling lost in the details.
Explore thoughts, emotions and behaviours, learning how they interact and influence each other.
Develop new coping strategies and experiment with doing things differently.
Gain insight and self-understanding, often discovering something new or unexpected about yourself.
Together, you and Karen work to integrate these insights into daily life through a process of ongoing reflection and reality-testing-creating a positive cycle of learning, growth, and change. Over time, clients often notice increased confidence, improved relationships, and a stronger sense of emotional stability and self-awareness.
Services
Individual Counselling
Perhaps you are facing some tough and challenging times, feeling anxious or depressed. Maybe you are afraid you are a burden on others, or, feel you don't fit in or belong. You are would like to be in a relationship or wondering about ending one. Individual counselling can address a wide and varied range of issues. Please click on to READ MORE to be reassured about your first session, expectations, questions you may have of me and then decide for yourself.
Couple Counselling
Are you experiencing a relationship crisis, perhaps a communication breakdown that cannot be resolved or other more complex issues? I work with couples from all communities, LGBTQ+ couples and sex and porn compulsion/addiction. There are 3 options in couples counselling, change that meets both your needs, learning to live with its limitations or ending the relationship. I hold all 3 options until you decide which is best. A question often asked is 'why did you choose one other'? The truth is there is conscious and unconscious choice - my specialism is uncovering the uniqueness of your 'couple fit' - please see blog.
Family Counselling
for blended families, step-parenting situations, children and young people's issues, transitions and life-stages.
Sex Addiction & Problematic Pornography Use (PPU)
for problematic pornography use visiting sex workers, cyber sex (including chat sites), fetish behaviours, telephone sex, sex with strangers/one night stands, and multiple affairs. For more information on 'Recognising Sex and Porn Addiction' please see my blog.
Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder & Impact on Partners
It is devasting to discover your partner has a sex addiction or problematic pornography use (PPU). It can be a complete shock or perhaps you have suspected for a long time? It can feel like being in the freefall trenches. Stability and safety is a priority.
Online Counselling in Northern Ireland
Whilst for many years I have used video conferencing for my own clinical supervision as well as supervising other counsellors, it wasn’t until March 2020 with the pandemic I have had extensive online training to ACTO Level 3 and am registered on their professional register.
Research consistently shows that online therapy is as effective as in person therapy and in now having worked extensively online, I am encouraged to find that this is so. Reassuringly, I have found that there is the same level of in-depth therapeutic trust, connectedness and authenticity with online as with face-to-face.
Some of the benefits of Online Counselling are, therapy anywhere that is comfortable and convenient for you and you can make your own space how you need it to be. No navigating transport or traffic and additional time onto your session. I am able to provide continuous support even when one of us is travelling. You can mix and match Online with in-person therapy. You can make a cuppa and have your pet beside you.
