Mrs Karen Curran

A conversation with Karen Curran

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  After decades of disassociating from the trauma and becoming seriously ill with no apparent cause, I was led to go on my own deep therapy journey in my late fifties. After much inner work, I finally allowed myself to remember the distressing events that led to my hiding the deep traumas from myself in order to survive. Afterwards, this led me to change direction and I became qualified in the modalities that I felt I could best serve, despite being at a time in life where I was told to only think of retiring. I combined decades of lived experience, including my former work in design, art and teaching to bring the best of me to my clients.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I work with the soul - healing of the inner spirit. I believe that change must come from the inside in order to be lasting and most effective. I have studied all kinds of modalities, but working with the inner spirit is what is the constant.
  This is not about religion, but about the spirit within. The child within who has been affected over the years and is seeking to be healed.
  Psychotherapy is a journey of the soul interacting with the other Parts of us.
  I am Trauma-Informed and continue my own professional and personal development with a focus on trauma and grief in order to serve my clients best where they are at.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  Healing and empowering of the soul and inner spirit from a trauma-informed view. I believe the soul journey is relevant for each of us, no matter what age. Psychotherapy helps us work with the interaction of the soma (body), emotions, mind and soul/spirit as they are all inter-connected.
  

• What methods do you use?

  Each client is an individual, but I am person-centred, compassionate and inspire my clients to tap into their inner wisdom. My methods include Sandplay Therapy, Art Therapy, Shamanic Visual Journeying, accompanied by gentle cognitive processes as needed as I am trained in CBT and ACT, Mindfulness, Soma processes, Parts Work (IFS) and more. I also use Writing and Movement and connect all the processes to nature and the soul/inner spirit in order to process, soothe and regulate the nervous system including anxiety, thoughts and emotions. I am a Trauma-Informed practitioner.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Each client is an individual. I notice that clients feel progress has been made at 'aha moments', when they get excited at showing me the insights that have occurred between session, or notice how they are responding differently to situations. And synchronicities. They will say, 'I get it. I feel different. I want to know more.'
  Children will tell me that they are handling situations differently, and share how they use a mantra/mudra to help them remember what they have learned in session or have created solutions of their own.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  My own personal therapy has made me a better person because the level of deep that I go within myself, is the level of deep that I can take my clients safely. It is a natural progression. I reflect every day and look at myself and my own reactions. I take my own soul journey seriously and have regular professional support and supervision and self-study. The soul journey is a life journey. You can choose to 'get off the train', but if you are called, you will return sooner than later and continue the journey.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I love that I am making a difference. My work with women, children and adolescents to help them change the effects of trauma, grief and life events, is something I never expected. Each session is different. Each person spontaneously experiences or shares something different and feels good at the end of a session - empowered to do better that week. I love that I inspire others. I love that they get excited about their lives. I am honoured that they share so deeply with me.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Absolutely. But I choose to let go of my feelings and focus on my client. I pause, take deep breaths and return to centre. When I am with a client, they have my full attention.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  There is a lack of compassion - both for the self and for others. And a lack of wanting to understand another person. Wars both worldly and on a personal basis are fought on the basis of people saying 'I am right and you are wrong.' Black and white thinking is legalistic and causes so much heartache as there is much fear and manipulation and judgement, including judgement of ourselves.
  When we are willing to look at our inner spirit deep in our heart, we can let go of the 'noise' and find what is aligned for us - our own inner truth. Find compassion for ourselves, and for others realising that we all respond to what makes us feel safe and what we understand at the time. As more and more people move to aligning with their soul, there will come to be more compassion and genuine 'hearing'. And that will help make the world a better place.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  I am an avid reader.
  I love the writings, prose and poetry of
  John O'Donohue - books 'Benedictus', 'Anam Cara' and more
  David Whyte - various prose and poetry
  Mary Oliver - 'The Journey' plus her other various prose and poetry.
  
  I also find for this book so helpful with work with children:
  Trauma Through a Child's Eyes - Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing
  by Peter A. Levine Maggie Kline