Karinna Johnstone, AASW
AASW social worker for trauma and life changes
- Trauma and grief support
- Practical coping strategies
- Flexible online sessions
About Karinna Johnstone
Karinna Johnstone is an AASW social worker with 18 years of experience supporting people across the lifespan. She brings a broad background that includes work with individuals and families facing disability, mental health challenges, homelessness, addiction, parental conflict, and complex life transitions. As a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers, she combines practical skills with compassionate guidance to help clients navigate difficult circumstances and build resilience.
Her practice focuses on managing trauma and abuse, grief and loss, depression and anxiety, and stress-related concerns. She also works with issues of self-esteem, relationship and family difficulties, sleep problems, parenting challenges, anger, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and adapting to life changes. Karinna attends to both immediate coping needs and longer-term personal growth, helping clients find motivation and strengthen confidence over time.
Karinna believes clients are the experts in their own lives and positions herself as a supportive guide on the path toward meaningful change. With the right skills, mindset, and supports in place, she helps people discover inner strengths they may not have recognized and move toward a more fulfilling life. She encourages anyone ready to seek help to take that courageous first step, offering collaborative support and empowerment throughout the therapeutic journey.
Her practice focuses on managing trauma and abuse, grief and loss, depression and anxiety, and stress-related concerns. She also works with issues of self-esteem, relationship and family difficulties, sleep problems, parenting challenges, anger, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and adapting to life changes. Karinna attends to both immediate coping needs and longer-term personal growth, helping clients find motivation and strengthen confidence over time.
Karinna believes clients are the experts in their own lives and positions herself as a supportive guide on the path toward meaningful change. With the right skills, mindset, and supports in place, she helps people discover inner strengths they may not have recognized and move toward a more fulfilling life. She encourages anyone ready to seek help to take that courageous first step, offering collaborative support and empowerment throughout the therapeutic journey.
Areas of Expertise
Also Specializes In
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Mindfulness Therapy Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems Systemic Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Karinna Johnstone have?
Karinna has 18 years of experience working as a social worker.
Is Karinna Johnstone a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the AASW credential, indicating membership in the Australian Association of Social Workers.
In which languages does Karinna Johnstone provide therapy?
Karinna provides therapy in English.
Where is Karinna Johnstone located?
Karinna is located in Australia.
How can I work with Karinna Johnstone as my therapist?
You can work with Karinna through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Karinna Johnstone work with international clients?
No. Karinna does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Karinna Johnstone cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic approaches and online support
Karinna draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to explore relational patterns and how early connections influence present-day relationships and emotional safety. This approach can help people who struggle with trust, abandonment concerns, or recurring difficulties in close relationships. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on active listening, empathy, and supporting clients to discover their own solutions and build self-directed confidence. For practical symptom-focused work, Karinna employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and develop concrete strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and stress.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Karinna works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences and helps determine which methods or combination of methods will be the best fit. She adapts her work as progress is made and as priorities change.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - which can make it easier to attend sessions around work, family, and daily life. These options increase access to consistent support and allow therapy to continue from wherever a client feels most comfortable, while still benefiting from the guidance of licensed professionals and experienced therapists.