Karen Santos , PACFA

Karen Santos is credentialed in Australia as a Psychotherapist and Social Worker and holds PACFA as a professional credential. She supports adults, adolescents, and children through difficult life chapters including trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, parenting challenges, grief, and major life adjustments.

With ongoing experience in evidence-based trauma and mental health counselling and recent work in community mental health case management, she brings practical skills and clinical insight to each therapeutic relationship. Her practice emphasizes understanding what matters most to each person and working side by side to build resilience and restore well-being.

Her specialized trainings include Neurobiology of Trauma and Developmental Trauma, Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). She is also strengthening competencies in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This varied skill set enables Karen to work effectively with individuals and with dyads such as parents and children, tailoring interventions to developmental needs and relational dynamics.

Karen approaches therapy with curiosity and respect, aiming to create a space for self-reconnection and practical growth. She collaborates with people to identify specific needs and priorities, and she focuses on supporting meaningful change that aligns with each person’s values and life context.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Karen draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice and shift unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior. CBT is practical and problem-focused and is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with day-to-day challenges.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) is used to explore emotions and relationship dynamics, helping clients strengthen attachment, improve communication, and process relational wounds. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports people to clarify their values and develop psychological flexibility, teaching ways to live alongside difficult thoughts and feelings while taking steps toward what matters most.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Karen collaborates with each person to identify which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts the work as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for busy schedules and those balancing family or work responsibilities. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or another convenient location while maintaining continuity of care and adapting to changing life circumstances.