Karen Santos, PACFA | Therapist in Australia

Practical coping skills
Family and parenting focus
Trauma-informed care

About Karen

Karen Santos is a PACFA-credentialled psychotherapist and social worker with 12 years' experience. She supports adults, adolescents and children through stress, anxiety, trauma, grief and life changes. Her work often includes parenting concerns and issues with self-esteem and depression.

Her background includes community mental health case management and long-term counselling for trauma and mental health. That experience shaped a practical, empathetic style that focuses on what matters most to each person. Sessions aim to identify clear, manageable steps rather than overwhelming plans.

Karen uses a mix of approaches to suit each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps with thoughts and behaviours that keep problems going. Emotionally-Focused Therapy supports people to notice and work with strong feelings. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Narrative Therapy to build values-based goals and reframe difficult stories.

She has training in the neurobiology of trauma and developmental trauma, and experience with play-based methods for children. That range helps when a presenting issue spans mood, relationships and early life experiences. Codependency and attachment difficulties are among the concerns she often addresses.

Sessions are collaborative and practical. Karen aims to create a calm space to make sense of hard events, test new coping skills, and build routines that fit family life. People can expect clear explanations, gentle encouragement and a focus on small, useful changes.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice inner experiences and choose actions that match their values. It is useful when someone wants to move forward despite ongoing anxiety or difficult thoughts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. This is often helpful for anxiety, low mood and stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people name and work with strong emotions, which can ease relationship tensions and attachment struggles.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work together with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative process may shift over time as priorities change and different tools are trialled.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into busy days, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people continue therapy through life changes or when in different parts of Australia. Ask about specific delivery options when you start the matching process so sessions can be planned to suit your routine and goals.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

Parenting issuesCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDissociationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgiveness Guilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Narrative TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

12+ years

Credentials

Listed on profile

Languages

English, Tagalog

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Karen work with?

She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief and trauma, plus parenting and self-esteem struggles. Codependency and attachment issues are also included in her areas of focus.

How does she approach therapy?

Her style is collaborative and practical. She uses methods like CBT, EFT, ACT and Narrative Therapy to set clear goals and teach coping skills.

What experience does she bring?

She has 12 years' experience in psychotherapy and social work, including community mental health case management and ongoing trauma counselling.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is PACFA-credentialled and based in Australia.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English and Tagalog.

Can people outside Australia work with her?

She is not taking international clients, so sessions are arranged for people located in Australia.

How is cost handled?

Fees vary with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start a therapy process?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.