Karinna Johnstone

Karinna Johnstone is an AASW social worker with 18 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression and anger. She works in a straightforward, practical way and focuses on what clients want to change. Karinna emphasises respect for each person's story and supports them to find the next right step.

Her background includes working with people from many walks of life and varying needs. She has supported people living with disability, homelessness, addiction, and parental conflict. That work led to experience in managing trauma, abuse, and complicated grief.

Karinna uses approaches that centre the person rather than labels. She draws on attachment-based ideas to look at relationship patterns and on client-centred ways to make therapy collaborative. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness tools are used to help with anxiety, low mood and anger.

In sessions she helps clients build motivation and practical coping skills. She also works on improving self-esteem and confidence so people can tackle life's challenges. Karinna aims to help clients discover strengths they may not have noticed before.

Karinna frames therapy as a team effort. She listens, offers clear options and helps set realistic steps that fit everyday life. She encourages people to notice small changes and to keep working towards a more fulfilling life.

Helping with relationships, thoughts and daily coping online

Attachment-based work looks at how early and current relationship patterns affect how people relate to others now. It can help with recurring conflict, trust issues and understanding strong emotional reactions. Client-centred therapy focuses on the person in front of the counsellor and on building a trusting, collaborative conversation where the client's priorities guide the work. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) teaches practical ways to notice and shift unhelpful thinking and behaviours, which can reduce anxiety, low mood and help manage anger.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Karinna will work together with clients to match methods to their needs, goals and preferences. That conversation shapes which tools and exercises are used and how therapy sessions unfold.

Please confirm current session options before booking as formats are not specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They can also make it simpler to continue work between appointments by using worksheets, mindfulness practices and thought records at home.