Profile / Australia
Karen Santos, PACFA
Australia
PACFA psychotherapist - stress and trauma
See online therapy options- CBT methods
- Emotionally-Focused work
- Parenting support
About Karen
Karen Santos is a PACFA-credentialled psychotherapist and social worker with 12 years' experience in Australia. She works with adults, adolescents and children who are facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, depression, parenting challenges and big life changes. She explains concerns plainly and focuses on practical steps people can try between sessions.
Her background includes community mental health case management and ongoing work in trauma-informed counselling. That practical experience shapes how she plans sessions and follows up on goals. She draws on therapies that look at thoughts, feelings and relationships to help people respond differently to difficult situations.
Karen uses a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside narrative and client-centred approaches. She is also developing her use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. These methods are used to notice unhelpful patterns, try new responses and strengthen relationships where relevant.
Sessions often include talking through recent problems, noticing unhelpful thoughts and testing small behaviour changes. For parents she can support practical ways to manage child-related stress and parent-child interactions. For people with trauma history she combines understanding of neurobiology with skills to manage reactions in daily life.
She speaks English and Tagalog. Practical steps to start are outlined on the site: complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online options button.
How Karen uses CBT, ACT and relational approaches online
Karen integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centred ideas into her online work. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behaviour changes to reduce distress. ACT emphasises noticing values and taking committed action even when feelings are hard. Client-Centred methods mean the therapist listens and reflects to help clients clarify what matters to them.Choosing an approach is collaborative. Karen will talk with each person about goals, preferences and what feels most useful. She often combines methods so the plan can shift as progress or challenges appear, and clients are encouraged to try practical steps between sessions.
The biography does not list specific session formats here, so please confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can help fit therapy into busy days by reducing travel and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. They also make it easier to continue work after a move or during life changes. Appropriately qualified therapists can adjust exercises for remote sessions and suggest practical homework that suits everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English, Tagalog
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with most often?
She commonly helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem and depression, plus parenting and coping with life changes.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She uses CBT to identify unhelpful thoughts and test small behaviour changes. Sessions include practical exercises to try between meetings.
What is her professional background?
She has 12 years' experience, including community mental health case management and ongoing trauma counselling work.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is PACFA credentialled and practices in Australia.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Tagalog.
Can people outside Australia work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin the process?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.