About Kara
Hello, it's lovely to have you here. My name is Kara Danks, and I'm a Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK) based professional therapist with a passion for helping others on their journey to mental wellbeing. My life has been dedicated to understanding the human condition and acquiring the skills necessary to support individuals in tackling life's challenges. The fusion of my personal experiences, professional history, and academic qualifications has shaped me into the therapist I am today.
My Career Journey
My career journey began with a natural desire to help others, which led me to become an NHS midwife. I had the absolute privilege of supporting women through their pregnancies and bringing over 100 babies into the world. This experience reinforced the importance of empathy, human connection, active listening, and patience, all essential qualities for a therapist.
Following my time as a midwife, I trained and worked as a probation officer in London. This role provided valuable insights into the complexities of human behaviour, the criminal justice system, and its impact on individuals and communities. I have also conducted long-term academic research in prisons, including high-security, where I had the chance to shape working practices and contribute to creating a safer and more rehabilitative environment for both staff and prisoners.
As an academic, I've had the opportunity to share my knowledge through lecturing criminology at the university level. Additionally, I have contributed to the fields of psychology and criminology as a published author with my research appearing in various academic journals.
For all my time in education and training, I still consider myself a committed lifelong learner. I love learning and keeping up to date with the latest research is essential. It allows me to be a better therapist, cultivating a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to assist my clients in overcoming their challenges.
In my therapeutic practice, specialising in holistic stress and burnout therapy along with confidence coaching, I apply my varied skillset to support clients in addressing the challenges they face while supporting them to uncover their inner resilience necessary for lasting change. By drawing on my experience and expertise, I offer a holistic approach to therapy, empowering individuals to pause, assess, reset and ultimately thrive.
Qualifications
To give you some insight into my academic background, I have pursued education and learning in the field of psychology and beyond. My love of learning can be seen in the qualifications that I have earned over the years, these are:
- PhD, Psychology & Criminology, Northumbria University
- MSc Psychology, Northumbria University
- BSc (Hons) Criminal Justice with Diploma in Probation Studies (DipPS), University of Hertfordshire
- BSc (Hons) Midwifery Studies, Northumbria University
- Level 4 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (DipCBH)
- Level 4 NVQ in Community Justice: Working with offending behaviour
- Level 3 Certificate in Independent Advocacy, City and Guilds
And from me to you…
On a more personal note, my journey has not been without its own challenges. I have experienced stress and burnout in my own life. This has given me valuable insight into how stress and burnout can manifest and the recovery process, this enables me to truly understand your experience.
If you're seeking a therapist who combines a wealth of experience, extensive professional qualifications, and a genuine warmth and understanding, I believe we could be a great fit.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to book a therapy session. I look forward to working with you.