Karen Nickelson , AASW

Karen Nickelson is an AASW social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief and relationship concerns. She focuses on practical support for self-esteem and coping with life changes. Karen uses a calm, direct style and values honesty so people can speak openly without feeling judged.

Karen trained with a Master of Social Work and a Master of Mental Health Practice, and she also holds a Bachelor of Human Services (Counselling) with a child and family emphasis. She has six years' experience in community and clinical settings and brings personal life experience to her counselling work.

Her work often centres on grief and loss, supporting carers, palliative care and end-of-life issues, and transitions such as separation or major life shifts. She also supports people with concerns linked to attachment, abandonment, body image, caregiving stress and blended family dynamics.

In a session Karen listens first, then helps people break problems into small steps. She uses straightforward conversation and practical strategies to help manage worry, improve communication and rebuild confidence. Sessions are collaborative and paced to suit each person's needs.

People come to Karen when they need steady support through hard times. She offers a warm, non-judgemental space and clear guidance on next steps. If you want a counsellor who is compassionate and grounded, Karen can help you make sense of what’s next.

Evidence-based approaches and online care

Karen uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on clear, practical work. One common approach helps people identify unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour, then tests small changes to reduce worry and lift mood. This approach can be useful for stress, anxiety and low self-esteem. Another approach centres on processing grief and loss by creating space to remember and reorganise priorities, which can help those facing bereavement, caregiving pressures or end-of-life transitions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Karen will discuss what matters most to you, try out techniques together, and adjust the plan based on your goals and how you respond. The emphasis is on simple, doable steps rather than technical language, so you can apply what you learn between sessions.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to make counselling more flexible. Video is useful when visual cues help the conversation, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can suit quick check-ins, and messaging is helpful for ongoing short reflections. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, care responsibilities and daily life.