- Men's wellbeing focus
- Attachment-informed
- Practical coping skills
About Karinna
Karinna Johnstone is an AASW social worker who uses a collaborative, person-centred approach to help people through hard times. She focuses on building practical skills and stronger self-belief so clients can manage stress, anxiety and major life changes more confidently.
She has 18 years of experience working across diverse settings and with people facing many challenges. Her experience includes supporting those living with trauma and abuse, grief and loss, depression, bipolar conditions, addiction-related harms, and co-occurring concerns such as ADHD and compassion fatigue.
In sessions she works with each person’s story rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions. She draws on attachment-informed ideas to understand relationship patterns, cognitive behaviour ideas to spot unhelpful thoughts, and narrative work to reframe difficult experiences. Mindfulness techniques and solution-focused strategies are used to build coping tools that fit everyday life.
She also supports people dealing with parenting strain, sleep problems, workplace stress and career uncertainty. Practical problem-solving and step-by-step plans are common features of her work when people feel overwhelmed or stuck.
Karinna aims to create a supportive, respectful space where clients set the pace and goals. She invites people to try new strategies and notice small changes, and to keep what works while adapting what does not.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
The work often draws on attachment-informed ideas to explore relationship patterns and how early connections shape current behaviour. This helps when people want to change recurring relationship difficulties or feel stuck in certain emotional reactions.She also uses client-centred and narrative approaches that treat the person as the expert in their own life and help them reframe difficult stories. These methods are about listening closely, reflecting what matters, and finding meaningful shifts in perspective.
Cognitive behavioural ideas are used to identify unhelpful thoughts and trial new coping strategies. This approach suits practical goals like reducing anxiety, improving sleep or managing mood swings through step-by-step plans.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose methods that match a person’s needs, goals and comfort level, and will adapt techniques as progress unfolds.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online or remote sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins during a lunch break, or making appointments possible when people are in different locations. Discuss format and timing during the initial matching and scheduling steps to decide what will work best.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Credentials
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Karinna commonly help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression and self-esteem issues, plus ADHD, compassion fatigue and relationship or family challenges.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and person-centred, using attachment-informed thinking, cognitive behaviour techniques, narrative work and mindfulness to build practical skills.
How much experience does she have?
Karinna has 18 years of experience working in a range of settings with people facing trauma, mental health challenges, homelessness and parenting conflict.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an AASW social worker and is based in Australia.
Can I work with her in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not working with international clients at this time.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a therapy process with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist’s availability.