Karinna Johnstone, AASW
Practical, story-focused social worker
Details
| Name | Karinna Johnstone |
|---|---|
| Credentials | AASW |
| Based in | Australia |
| Registered with | AASW |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 18 |
About Karinna
Karinna Johnstone is an AASW social worker with 18 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression and challenges with self-esteem. Karinna focuses on practical steps people can use right away to feel steadier and more capable.
Her approach begins with listening to the story each person brings. She works from a narrative perspective and also uses attachment-based, client-centred, cognitive behavioural and mindfulness ideas to guide sessions.
Background and approach
Karinna treats the person, not the label, and helps them notice patterns that get in the way of daily life. Sessions are collaborative and goal-focused. She helps people build motivation, strengthen confidence and develop skills for coping with change.
That can mean simple behavioural strategies, thinking work to shift unhelpful beliefs, or mindfulness exercises to manage overwhelming feelings. Karinna has a long history supporting people through grief, parenting strain, relationship stress, career transitions and compassion fatigue. She also works with neurodiversity matters such as ADHD and autism-related concerns, and with complex presentations including co-morbidity and personality-related issues.
People choose Karinna when they want a steady, practical counsellor who listens and helps them try different ways to cope. Her style is warm and direct, with an emphasis on small steps that add up to meaningful change. To begin, a simple matching process helps connect a person to the right session type and time.
Karinna will work alongside each person to set realistic goals and track progress over time.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief among the things Karinna works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Karinna among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Karinna directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Karinna directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Narrative and practical approaches in online therapy
Karinna uses Narrative Therapy to help people reframe the stories they tell about themselves. This approach looks at how problems develop in a person’s life story and makes space for new, more helpful meanings to emerge. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to notice how early and current relationship patterns affect emotional reactions and close connections, which can be useful for relationship stress and parenting concerns.She also draws on client-centred methods that prioritise the person's own goals and pace. Together the person and therapist review what works and adjust the approach as needed. Choosing the right mix of methods is a collaborative process and Karinna will discuss preferences, goals and practical needs before settling on a plan.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is suited to longer sessions and face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging can be used for shorter check-ins, written reflections or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments and let people try different ways of connecting to find what suits them best.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Karinna help with?
She helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression and low self-esteem, plus parenting and relationship strain.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her work is narrative-focused and client-centred, with practical tools from CBT and mindfulness to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
What kind of experience does she bring?
Karinna has 18 years of experience as a social worker supporting people through trauma, addiction-related issues, homelessness and complex mental health needs.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is listed with the AASW and practises in Australia.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be arranged as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are delivered through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin work with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Karinna are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Karinna where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
Or see other therapists in Australia »
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Other listings in this directory
- Patricia Pardy, LMHC, LCPC - New York
- Wendy Galyen, LCSW - Indiana
- Danielle Doskocil, LPC, LCMHC - South Carolina
- Moushumi Ghose, LMFT - California
- All therapists for stress, anxiety »