Meet the Team: Karen Cunliffe – Counsellor

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by Saskia Wickenden | 23rd Jun 2026

Since joining the team, Karen has been supporting adults and young people through compassionate, person-centred counselling, helping clients feel heard, understood and supported.

What’s your favourite part of working as a Counsellor at Gatehouse Health?
It’s great to be part of the Gatehouse team here in Battle offering part of a truly holistic approach to health. Counselling support sits perfectly alongside t he specialist treatments in physical and energetic health and forms a true collaboration to support the mind and body. While my colleagues focus on physical alignment and recovery, I provide a confidential and safe space to explore and process the emotions and feelings that sometimes live alongside physical experiences. This also works in reverse with the benefits of physical relaxation and treatment supporting the counselling process.

Do you have any tips for getting the most from a session?
Give yourself plenty of time to arrive a few minutes early so you can sit and relax and start to decompress, switching off your phone and move from the busyness of the outside world to a more reflective state where you start to notice how you are feeling will help you to focus on what is important for you in the session.

What inspires you?
In the counselling room, it is a privilege to be working alongside clients who are ready to move forward in their lives. In everyday life, I love gardening and animals and being outside in the fresh air in nature always provides inspiration. Being able to find pleasure in the quiet or simple things in life is wonderful – although I do love a good dance too!

Why are your sessions 50 minutes?
This is accepted as a good amount of time for regular sessions allowing clients and counsellor to settle into a pattern of regular therapeutic work. It offers a consistent, structured space to explore thoughts, feelings and emotions without outside distractions. The regularity and routine of the session could be seen as more important than the actual length and sometimes it works well to reduce or extend agreed session times depending on the individual needs of the client.

Who is Counselling for?
Counselling can be highly effective and supportive for anyone going through significant life events or changes helping to navigate the curveballs that life throws up. It can also be helpful when our internal world seems overwhelming even without an obvious crisis or reason. Some people use the counselling space to find clarity and understand themselves better. It can also be a good place to gain new perspectives, identify unhelpful patterns and develop practical coping strategies to carry into daily life. Being able to talk and be listened to without judgement is potentially transformative. To experience the support of someone who sits outside of your daily life and can support you while you find your own emotional balance and inner resilience.

What advice would you give to someone considering Counselling?
My advice would be to think about whether it feels like the right time for you now. Sometimes clients come into therapy with a clear reason and sometimes it is just knowing it’s time to address something that can no longer be ignored. Being self-compassionate and honest will help you make the right choice for yourself. Counselling sessions can occasionally be challenging when looking at things that are really painful, shameful, sad or toxic having a counsellor who understands and works in a non-judgmental and non-directive way alongside you as you face these challenges allows parts of you to heal, develop and grow in ways that can be hard to imagine.

If you want to ask any specific questions, booking a 15 min free telephone call can be a good place to start.

How to book your session:

• Book online: www.gatehousehealth.co.uk
• Call: 01424 481869
• Email: reception@gatehousehealth.co.uk