Director of Counselling
CCS Senior Practitioner
Registered at Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association
Education: MSc in Mental Health Psychology
Types of Therapy: Psychodynamic, EFT, IFS, ACT, DBT, CBT
Languages: English
Works with: Adult, Teenager, LGBTQ+
Locations: Downtown, Online
Karlene is from New Zealand where she studied Psychology at undergraduate level before coming to China 20 years ago. She has an MSc in Mental Health Psychology from the University of Liverpool (a British Psychological Society accredited course) where she achieved distinction level grades in all modules including Psychological Appraisal and Treatment, Psychotherapeutic Intervention Strategies as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Mental Health Treatment. Karlene’s dissertation studies focused on post-natal depression and anxiety in particular during the first 1-6 months following birth.
Karlene’s approach to supporting clients focuses upon evidence-based practice and psychotherapies working hard to assess the bio-psycho-social needs of her clients, she uses an integrative approach blending modalities and therapies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Approaches to treat a variety of mental health problems and disorders. Karlene has received training in treating addictive behaviors, depressive disorders like post-natal depression/post-natal anxiety, anxiety disorders such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder but also social phobia, panic attacks and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as well as eating disorder psychopathology, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and CPTSD.
Karlene works to demystify approaches to therapy by diffusing myths about mental health to normalize the experience of her clients, placing their psychoeducation and the therapeutic relationship and alliance at the forefront of creating a safe and supportive zone for clients to learn and acquire useful skills and tools, which they can then utilise beyond the counseling context to help deal with distress and live better lives. Her goal in a client session is to begin to set in motion and facilitate a growing awareness of the client’s own psychotherapeutic process, that leads the client toward relieving their distress, and working for ongoing change that continues well beyond each therapy session, with a focus on wellbeing to help prevent further distress and build resilience for her clients.
Karlene has extensive experience in delivering workshops and corporate training sessions on an array of topics related to workplace mental health, suicide prevention and intervention as well as years of training volunteers to work on a helpline for crisis and mental health support.