Rate Kim Zepler

I am a qualified and registered humanistic counsellor and psychotherapist based in Dorset. My style of working is conversational however the focus is always on your experiences.

So what is a humanistic therapist? It sounds vague but it’s a type of talking therapy whereby you are able to talk through your problems without judgement or have someone telling you what you should do. If you want to be told what to do I am not the therapist for you.

I support clients with many, but not all, of life's challenges such as day to day stress and anxiety of work, study and the relationships we value with our peers (friends, relatives, and colleagues) to the bigger life struggles especially those surrounding loss.

Most of us will be touched by loss at some point. Loss is so much more than bereavement. Loss can be someone important leaving our world i.e., friendship breakdowns or family estrangements, moving town or country. Loss can also be changes in our health and well-being. We can lose our status or identity such as losing our job or our children leaving home. All of these can lead us to feeling confused and uncertain about who we are, where we fit into the world. It can be deeply unsettling. Making sense can be difficult.

My practice is trauma informed and this means I am comfortable working with traumatic and sudden events such as death by suicide, illness and serious life altering accidents. I have worked with those who have experienced physical, emotional, financial and historical abuse.

Or sometimes we have just lost our 'sparkle', ‘mojo’ or way and don’t know why; asking the question "who the *@?! am I"

I offer a confidential, warm, safe and non-judgmental space in which you can explore your inner life and find your voice. I am client led and our time together is always about your needs.

As a humanistic counsellor my approach integrates Person Centred, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. I can also weave in some Solution Focused and Emotion Focusing techniques. Creative exercises and a little bit of mindfulness can be integrated if you think it might help.

Counselling takes courage and can involve gentle challenging self enquiry, it helps us grow. It can be short or long term work. Talking therapy can help us heal our hurt, nurture and maintain our well-being. Sometimes acceptance can be as powerful as change.

I have a playful imagination and a sense of humour; I am real and human.