- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Parenting support
About Karen
Karen Santos is a PACFA-credentialled psychotherapist and social worker in Australia with 12 years of clinical experience. She supports people through stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, depression, parenting challenges and life changes. Sessions are offered in English and Tagalog.
Karen has worked in community mental health and in trauma counselling. That background informs practical strategies for managing distress and day-to-day symptoms. She uses methods drawn from Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy among others.
Her approach combines talking work with developmentally informed trauma practice. She draws on knowledge of the neurobiology of trauma and developmental trauma to guide interventions. This helps when emotions feel overwhelming or when past events affect present relationships and parenting.
When grief, loss or long-term health issues are present, Karen focuses on practical coping skills and on clarifying what matters most to the person. She aims to help clients notice patterns that keep problems going, and to try small, manageable changes that can reduce distress.
To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. The site’s booking flow explains subscription details and how sessions are scheduled and cancelled.
How therapeutic approaches inform online sessions
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people name and work with strong emotions and attachment patterns. It can be useful when feelings are hard to say and when relationship patterns repeat. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches ways to notice thoughts and choose actions based on personal values; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and trying different behaviours to reduce symptoms like panic or low mood.Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences and will try methods that fit the person’s needs. If an approach doesn’t feel right, adjustments are made together so the work stays relevant and practical.
Session formats are not listed on the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, for example by removing travel time or allowing shorter check-ins during a break. It can also let people choose quieter surroundings, avoid being on camera for some sessions, or use phone calls when bandwidth is limited. Appropriately qualified counsellors and therapists will discuss how sessions will run and help plan a format that suits daily routines and goals.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English, Tagalog
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem problems, depression, parenting struggles and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style?
She combines Emotionally-Focused Therapy with client-centred listening and practical CBT tools to help name emotions and change unhelpful patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 12 years of experience, including community mental health work and trauma counselling roles.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is credentialled with PACFA and practises in Australia.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Tagalog.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions arranged and what does cost look like?
Costs vary by location and use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time; specific pricing appears during the booking process.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session through the booking flow.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.