Karen is a graduate of Massey University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences – predominantly psychology and Maori studies) in 1984, a Master of Arts with (First Class Honours in Psychology) and Endorsement in Clinical Psychology (1989), a Doctorate in Psychology (1997), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology.

Karen’s PhD research looked at an integrated approach to assessing driving following neurological damage and compared results across four different groups of drivers in the community.

On graduating Karen was the first psychologist employed at Rehab Plus (ADHB), where she worked in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation wards for almost ten years. During this time, she had a brief neuropsychology internship at the Royal Rehabilitation Unit in Sydney. During her period of work with the Auckland District Health Board she started her own part-time Private Practice in 2001, which is now her full time occupation.
Karen’s interests are with psychological aspects of rehabilitation from brain injury and physical injury (including amputation and spinal injuries), and trauma work. She holds her own contracts with ACC including the new ISSC (Sensitive Claims) and also subcontracts to a number of Auckland services including Rehab Partners. She is a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS), Institute of Clinical Psychology (ICP) and the New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS).