HPCSA
Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Reg: PS0123579
Clinical Psychologist · Cape Town
Karen Fleming
Therapy for change, growth and wellbeing. Supporting you in finding your way through life's challenges.
HPCSA registered
10+ years' experience
Online across SA
About Karen
EMDR Therapy. Trauma. Anxiety. Life Transitions.
Individual therapy for adults in Cape Town and across South Africa.
I provide online, individual therapy for adults in Cape Town and throughout South Africa. Whether you’re experiencing emotional distress, navigating a difficult life transition such as a breakup or simply feeling stuck, therapy can offer a confidential, supportive space to better understand yourself, make sense of your experiences and move towards meaningful, lasting change.
I work with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and significant life transitions. Drawing on evidence-based approaches including EMDR, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, I adapt therapy to your individual experiences, needs and goals.
My approach is active and collaborative. As we explore the patterns and experiences that have shaped your current difficulties, I may introduce helpful tools, share insights to help you better understand your thoughts, emotions and patterns, or suggest relevant reading. We may also identify small, achievable goals between sessions to support your progress beyond the therapy space. Together, we’ll make sense of what’s happening, work through what’s keeping you feeling stuck, and help you move forward with greater clarity, resilience and confidence.
Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology & Community Counselling (Cum Laude) — University of Stellenbosch.
Trained in EMDR: EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) Approved Training.
Registered & accountable
Qualifications & registrations
Karen is a registered clinical psychologist and a member of South Africa's professional and healthcare bodies.
BHF
Board of Healthcare Funders.
Practice no: 0860010584916
PsySSA
Member of the Psychological Society of South Africa.
University of Stellenbosch
Master's (Cum Laude) in Clinical Psychology & Community Counselling.
A decade of clinical practice
Experience & training
Over the past decade, Karen's work has spanned private practice, rural and urban hospitals, and clinics across South Africa — alongside voluntary and business-sector work.
Hospitals (Department of Health): Groote Schuur Hospital: Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health. Valkenburg Hospital: Outpatients Departments, Acute Female Admissions Unit. Red Cross Children's Hospital: Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Connie Vorster Memorial Hospital: Inpatients Division, Outpatients Division. Jan Kempdorp Hospital: Outpatients Division. Warrenton Hospital: Outpatients Division.
Clinics (Department of Health): Woodstock Community Clinic. Pampierstad Clinic: HIV & medication resistant tuberculosis unit.
Voluntary work with NGOs in Cape Town: Parent-child support workshops and group support. Initiative to combat human trafficking.
Co-Founder & Director of Coherence Foundation NPC: collaborated with NGOs, schools and hospitals in the Western Cape, providing therapeutic groups and psychoeducation workshops for children, their caregivers and the professionals working with them.
Skills-based groups: alongside her colleague Kirsten Barnardt, facilitated supportive and skills-based groups for children, parents and retirees.
Skills Groups for Children: co-compiled the course content for The Cool Chameleons and Team Time Emotional Regulation Skills group for children, and co-facilitated the group across multiple Cape Town schools alongside Kirsten Barnardt.
Business sector: involved in mentoring programmes and stress-reduction workshops for tech start-ups, and invited as a panel speaker at the Cape Town Founders Conference during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
(BWRT) BrainWorking Recursive Therapy: Associate Member: The Terence Watts BWRT Institute Ltd, London, UK.
Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner: Level 1 (Switzerland). Level 2 & 3 (South Africa).
Internal Family Systems Therapy: (IFS Institute Inc.) The Center for Self Leadership. Online Circle.
Learner Support Facilitator Training.
Art Therapy: Basic Training Intensive Course.
Design background: National Diploma in Graphic Design, Cape Technikon.
Current focus: online individual therapy within South Africa, niche projects, and building global partnerships to expand access to wellbeing resources and support.
Areas of special interest
Special interests
Karen draws on evidence-based approaches with a particular focus on trauma and the mind-body connection.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — an evidence-based treatment for trauma recognised by international guidelines such as the WHO.
EFT
Emotional Freedom Technique — a body-calming, self-applied method with promising research for anxiety, stress and trauma-related symptoms.
Published research
Published Papers
Karen has had her research paper published in a peer-reviewed academic journal: African Safety Promotion: A Journal of Injury and Violence.
Areas of focus
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
Loss
Relationship Stress
Shame
Work Stress & Burnout
Loneliness
Major Life Changes
Trauma-Informed Care
Psychodynamic Therapy
Metacognitive Therapy (MCT)
EMDR
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Verified listings
Find Karen on therapist directories
Karen is listed on these recognised professional and therapist directories.
Meet the other practice partner
Kirsten Barnardt
Kirsten works alongside Karen Fleming, providing online therapy for adults across South Africa. She integrates EMDR, Metacognitive Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy in a thoughtful, collaborative approach with her clients.
They each offer a thoughtful online therapy approach for adults from the privacy of your own space.
View Kirsten's profile
Take the first step
Reach out when you feel ready to begin
Send a short enquiry whenever you're ready to start the conversation with Karen.