I am Karin Sieger, a BACP registered and accredited psychotherapist and I offer online psychotherapy and counselling via Zoom across the UK and beyond. I am based in Richmond (West London, UK).
On this page you will find everything you need to know about the types of difficulties I can assist you with, my qualifications and fees and how to book your free initial consultation.
I am an approved health care provider with AXA Health, AVIVA, Allianz, CIGNA and WPA.
1. How can I help you?
When we feel overwhelmed, frightened, bereft or hopeless it can be hard to know what to do for the best. That is where therapy can assist. I help my clients face their difficulties, find positive ways of coping and identify a suitable path ahead.
I specialise in support for
- general anxiety
- loss, grief and bereavement
- hopelessness, sadness, regrets
- chronic illness
- the emotional and mental impact of long COVID
- the emotional impact of cancer (find out more about cancer counselling here)
- life transitions (crisis of purpose, mid life, career change etc)
- personal development
- low self esteem and confidence
- I also offer therapy in German (find out more here).
2. I believe in what I do.
Therapy is about telling your story to someone who is independent and listens without judgment, in a calm and confidential setting. It can lighten your burden, help you understand your life, your options and get you back on track with a renewed sense of energy, direction and motivation.
I am passionate about the healing and life-changing power of counselling and therapy, which I have experienced first-hand and in my work with my clients.
3. About Me
I hold an MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy, trained and worked in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) before setting up my private practice. I also write a lot, and you can browse my self help articles and podcasts via my website. I was born in Germany and have been living, studying and working in the UK since the mid 80s. Prior to retraining as a therapist, I spent some 25 years in consumer and media research (including BBC World Service, De Beers and AOL). I have been diagnosed with cancer twice. More information here.
4. Free Initial Consultation
I offer a free 20 minutes online consultation via Zoom where we can discuss your needs, see whether I offer the right support and for us to agree next steps.
5. My Fees
My standard (50 mins) session fee is £75 (until 1800 on weekdays, £80 at all other times). I offer some concessions.
My fee for an extended one-off (100 mins) consultation is £150.
Payments are done online via bank transfer or PayPal (incl PayPal fee) and have to be received on the day of our consultation.
I am an approved health care provider with AXA Health, AVIVA, Allianz, CIGNA and WPA. If you have either of these private health insurances, then you may be able to claim therapy with me through them.
6. Psychotherapy with me: What to expect and how does it work?
The first session
The first session gives you an opportunity to tell me, why you are considering therapy at this stage in your life, and to ask me any relevant questions. Based on that we can work out whether I am the right support and whether you would like to work with me.
How many sessions
The length of our work would depend on your goal for therapy. This would be discussed at our first session and reviewed as appropriate.
The session frequency
The frequency of sessions will depend on your needs and we would agree the best approach. Mostly sessions would be weekly. Because a lack of regularity and continuity undermines the effectiveness of therapy. For clients who undergo cancer or other medical treatment arrangements will be agreed as appropriate.
7. Practical Points
Terms and conditions
In the interest of transparency, every client receives a written agreement from me, which outlines the terms of our work and your goals. You can view my Privacy Policy here.
Cancellations
For therapy cancellations with at least 48 hours notice (2 working days) a fee of £20 applies. For all cancellations with less than 48 hours (2 working days) notice the full session fee applies. However, within reason, I would always aim to offer you a suitable replacement slot, if available.
For clients undergoing cancer or other medical treatment we would agree a suitable arrangement for cancellations due to feeling unwell.
How do online sessions work?
I have put together a brief guide for you here.
My Registered Address
My registered office address is “The Bridge Workspace, 7 (b) Parkshot, Richmond TW9 2RD UK”
8. A brief overview of what integrative therapy means and how I practice.
I am what is called an integrative therapist. That means I have been trained in several approaches, which I ‘integrate’ and rely on depending on what is most helpful to my clients at any given time. I combine four main approaches:
I. The Humanistic approach, which encourages us to think about our feelings and to take responsibility for our thoughts and actions. The emphasis is on self-development and achieving our potential.
II. The Person-Centered Therapy is intended to help for us to become able to see ourselves as a person with power and freedom to change. Crucial to this are a range of conditions, which the practitioner brings to the work; core are accurate empathy, genuineness or congruence, warmth and unconditional positive regard for the client.
III. The Psychodynamic Therapy approach is derived from Freudian psychoanalysis, but it is not analysis. It acknowledges the importance of the unconscious and past experiences (eg with our parents or other significant people in our lives) in shaping our current behaviour. Here, insight is the tool by which what is unconscious is brought to consciousness, freeing us to make new choices.
IV. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the link between our thinking and behaviour patterns, and how changes in our thinking can bring about changes in how we behave, and thus enhance our well being. Negative thoughts and ‘self-talk’ are challenged using various techniques and the introduction of different ways of thinking. CBT is applied mostly to short-term solution-focussed counselling.
