Karen is a Clinical Psychologist (registered in the Clinical scope of practice with the New Zealand Psychologists Board) with over 35 years of experience in assessment and treatment of a wide range of psychological disorders. Most of her clients now are adults and the most common difficulties she works with are trauma, mood (depression, anger), anxiety or relationships.

She spent fifteen years working in a variety of public mental health units in both Christchurch and Auckland before establishing her own private practice in Christchurch. This work included assessment and treatment/rehabilitation of acute and chronic inpatients and outpatients at Sunnyside Hospital (now Hillmorton Hospital) in Christchurch and the Connolly Unit at Auckland Hospital. She has also worked in a variety of other specialist units, including the Alcohol Counselling Centre, the Princess Margaret Hospital (Ward C Day Programme, Eating Disorders Unit, Anxiety Disorders Unit, Mother and Babies Unit), Christchurch Hospital (Child and Family Unit) and the Child, Adolescent and Family Service in Christchurch. After she established her private practice she developed interests in the areas of parenting, care and protection of children, and couple or family relationships and has 15 years of experience in providing specialist reports for the Family Court (s29a, s133 s178) and counselling for parents and couples referred by the Family Court.  She also developed interest in the area of stress and trauma and still provides ISSC Counselling and Psychological Services to ACC, and counselling and supervision to a number of employees in various businesses through their employee assistance schemes.