With the combination of a sharp analytical mind and a sensitive and creative personality, Karen is a compassionate and effective psychotherapist. Karen has a Master of Counselling qualification from the University of Canberra. Karen is a clinically registered counsellor with PACFA (Psychotherapist and Counselling Federation of Australia).
Karen presented a paper at the International Association of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology 2023 International Conference and has published in the IAPSP journal (April 2024). Ongoing learning and self reflection is a way of life for Karen.
Karen will work with anyone who wants to access therapy and has a wide variety of clientele – all ages (primarily from 14 up), genders (LGBQT), trauma histories (obvious & invisible trauma), diversely abled (Downs Syndrome, ABI, sensorily and physically impaired, varied neurodiversity). Her specialisations include working with people who have experienced trauma (all types of trauma), those living with chronic illness, disordered eating (trained as an Eating Disorder Clinician in 2022 with lived experience of AN) and/ or disability (varied types of ability).
(For full details see Professional Work History below)
After mature age entry post-graduate study in Social Research in 2013, Karen chose to pursue a clinical qualification in Counselling.
Karen has a passion for relational psychodynamic psychotherapy and has read widely and attended workshops in associated areas – including Somatic Movement and Body Focused Therapies, Self Psychology, Specialist Supportive Clinical Management for ED, Emotion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Buddhist practices (mindfulness, DBT similar practices). Karen has an interest in trauma and it’s many manifestations, and how we live with and integrate it’s effects. She has participated in movement workshops and explored trauma theory and its links with body awareness, and movement, combined with verbal psychotherapy.
Karen receives regular professional supervision.
Karen’s journey of Self Knowledge
… began with her interest in getting to know her self and what life is all about consciously from about age 16. Now, Karen finds inspiration in the simple things, including nature, people and a variety of creative arts.
Karen began her journey of self discovery from a base of Christian theory and practice in her school days. Later, from age 19, meditation and chanting in the Vedic tradition became a regular part of her life. Karen has explored Buddhism also, attending classes in Tibetan Buddhism for a couple of years. Karen has an ongoing commitment to the growth of her self awareness. Karen is equally restored outside in the wonder of nature and her aim is for a life of growth, inspiration, freedom and compassion.
Professional Work History
Karen began her working life as an IT auditor and financial accountant and then as a business and finance manager in the early 90’s for 20+ years.
Karen volunteered as a foster carer with Barnardos Australia from 2006 – 2016 & in 2021-23, participating in many training opportunities regarding understanding and responding to problematic behaviours, trauma informed parenting and trauma informed out of home care (developmental & relational trauma). Whilst being the primary carer for her own children, Karen worked in a variety of roles including as a swimming teacher and a learning support teacher, supporting children with special needs in the mainstream classroom.
To match her working life with her personal interests, Karen studied Social Research at the ANU in 2013, then chose to step closer to clinical work with Post Graduate qualifications in Counselling at the University of Canberra, completed in 2019.
Whilst studying Counselling, Karen moved from working with classes, parents and families, to working with individual clients who have experienced trauma via the ACT Trauma and Support Service, ACT Ambulance Service Wellbeing Program and StandBy Suicide Bereavement provision post suicide and post traumatic incident support. This work enabled her to learn deeply about what works for people who have experienced traumatic incidents.
In late 2016 Karen participated in her University placement at an adult correctional facility. Her work as a Mental Health Professional conducting intake and risk assessments, and providing ongoing therapeutic intervention for detainees referred for psychological support both in groups and individually was followed by a paid contract position at the prison, working as an individual and group therapist (forensic psychotherapy).
From 2016 to 2020, in addition to her growing private practice (begun in late 2017), Karen worked in the Domestic and Family Violence Sector as a Crisis Worker, Court Support worker and Crisis Case Practitioner. In 2020, Karen then took a position as a Couples and Family Counsellor in a not for profit organisation, with a focus on family and relationships.
Karen began to see clients privately at her clinic in Turner in 2017 and continues to do so, now in Curtin, ACT.
Qualifications
B.Commerce (from the ANU, 1994), Grad Cert. (Business Admin. from UC, 2002), Grad Cert (Soc. Research from the ANU, 2013),
Master of Counselling (from UC, 2019).
PACFA Clinical Counsellor (24364).
Awarded the Deans Excellence Award 2017, University of Canberra.
Faculty of Health Outstanding Student Performance 2019 with a GPA of 6.5, University of Canberra.
Professional Memberships
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
- International Association for Psychodynamic Self-Psychology (IAPSP)
- International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (IARPP)
