

Karen Sri Thomas
Psychotherapist and Registered Clinical Counsellor
In person and online
Session languages: Bahasa Indonesia, English
“Trauma-informed psychotherapy for adults, attending to what goes beyond words”
About Karen
My deepest wish is to support people as they work through their individual psychological, emotional and mental health issues. I am a trauma-informed psychotherapist, and I truly enjoy working with adults aged 17 to 100 and over. I see people for anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief and loss, trauma recovery, relationship issues, life transitions and cultural issues. I also work with survivors of family and domestic abuse.
I moved into counselling and psychotherapy in 2019 and have been practising since 2020. Before private practice I worked as a Specialist Trauma Counsellor and as a Generalist Counsellor at Doncare Community Centre. I was also a Grief Counsellor at The Grief Centre. Earlier, I lectured in Indonesian language at The University of Melbourne and was a Research Fellow in Asian theatre studies at Monash University. I hold a PhD from UC Berkeley.
Taking the step to seek counselling requires courage. I am ready to support you on this path. Together, we look for your own ways of releasing the burdens of stress, tension and past trauma. I see clients in person in South Yarra, Melbourne, and by phone or video.
How Karen works
My approach is integrative and experiential. I bring curiosity and openness to your moment-to-moment experiencing in a bodily way, helping you connect and attune deeply with yourself, sensing and feeling in a way that goes beyond words, analyses and categories. I draw on Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory, Existential Therapy, Person-Centred Therapy and trauma-informed practice. I help you attend to those stuck places, the emotional and psychological stoppages that stand in the way of being your authentic self in your life and relationships. My work emphasises the human potential for self-discovery and growth.
Approaches
General information from Kyan about each method, not a description of how Karen works.
Body-oriented & somatic therapy
Body-oriented and somatic therapies work with the body as well as the mind: breathing, posture, movement and physical sensations. Feelings and experiences often show up in the body, and paying attention to them can help release tension and settle stress. They are often used for stress, anxiety and the after-effects of trauma.
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT)
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) sees emotions as important guides that can be understood and changed. It helps you notice, name and work with feelings, including painful ones, so they become less overwhelming. It is also widely used with couples, to understand the emotional cycles between partners and build a closer bond.
Attachment-based therapy
Attachment-based therapy looks at how early bonds with caregivers shape the way we connect with others today. Understanding these patterns can make sense of a fear of closeness or of being left, and of difficulties that keep coming back in relationships. The work aims at feeling more secure with yourself and with the people who matter to you.
Existential therapy & logotherapy
Existential therapy and logotherapy look at the big questions of life: meaning, freedom, choice, loss and mortality. Rather than treating difficulties only as symptoms, they explore how you want to live and what gives your life meaning. They can be helpful at turning points, in times of crisis or when life feels empty.
Person-centred therapy
Person-centred therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, starts from the idea that you are the expert on your own life. The therapist offers warmth, empathy and genuine attention without steering the conversation, so you can explore what matters to you at your own pace. Many people find it helps them feel heard and grow in confidence and self-understanding.
Who Karen works with
Focus areas
Checked by Kyan · Nov 2026
Clinical Counsellor / Psychotherapist (PACFA Clinical registrant), PACFA Find a Therapist (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia), no. 27996
Register number 27996
Registration checked · Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) · Nov 2026 · View the register entry
Kyan found Karen’s registration current in the official register named here, on the date shown. How Kyan checks
Training and qualifications
Education
- Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy
- PhD in South and Southeast Asian Theatre and PerformanceUC Berkeley
- MA in South and Southeast Asian Studies
- BA (Honours, First Class)
Further training
- Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy (Eugene Gendlin's Focusing)
Education, further training and memberships as Karen listed them. Kyan hasn’t checked these.
Sessions and prices
Counselling and psychotherapy sessionAUD 210
I offer counselling and psychotherapy sessions in person in South Yarra, Melbourne, and by phone or video. I work with adults from 17 years of age.
Practical details
- Session languages
- Bahasa Indonesia, English
- Meeting formats
- In person · Online
Questions and answers
Can I see you online or by phone?
Yes. I offer sessions by phone or video, as well as in person in South Yarra, Melbourne.
Which languages do you speak?
I work in English. I also speak Indonesian, which I taught at The University of Melbourne in the late 1990s.
Who do you work with?
I work with adults aged 17 to 100 and over. I see people for anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma recovery, relationship issues, chronic pain or illness, and existential or spiritual issues. I also work with survivors of family and domestic abuse.
What is your way of working?
My approach is integrative and experiential. I bring curiosity and openness to your moment-to-moment experiencing in a bodily way, so you can connect and attune deeply with yourself. I draw on Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory, Existential Therapy, Person-Centred Therapy and trauma-informed practice.
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