Karen Baker, RP, CTP Dipl.
Vancouver, British Columbia
VerifiedTelehealth Available
My Approach to Therapy
Stress that won't switch off - saying yes when we wish we said no - constantly over-thinking: these are signs of a nervous system stuck in survival mode. Patterns of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and anxiety aren't random. Perhaps these still feel necessary, or maybe they feel like flaws - they're not, at some point they helped. But, are we faithfully following a rule-book that no longer applies?
WHO I WORK WITH:
I'm a Registered Psychotherapist (regulated in Ontario, CRPO), now based in BC. I provide secure online psychodynamic therapy to clients across Ontario and British Columbia.
I work with adults who are tired of just surviving, and are looking to change old patterns that no longer serve them: chronic anxiety, stress that won't switch off, relational difficulties, or a sense of being stuck in familiar loops, to name a few.
WHAT CHANGES:
Over time, the experience of being heard and attuned-to in therapy grooves an embodied sense of safety. As the nervous system finds more capacity to shift out of 'survival', more becomes available: rest that actually restores, patience in hard conversations, deeper connection with the people you love. Painful or shameful parts that once felt monstrous are often revealed as misunderstood - parts that were only ever trying to protect.
A NOTE ON HOW I WORK:
I tend to play my cards face up. I'll tell you what I'm thinking and why, so the work doesn't feel like a black box. I'm comfortable with ambiguity and the messiness of real human experience. I won't rush you toward simple answers. There's no fixed route - I'm here to accompany you on a journey led by your innate drive toward healing. That said, I provide a steadying hand, or guidance, when needed.
Before training as a psychotherapist, I spent 13 years practicing as a chiropractor, which shaped my deep respect for the mind-body connection in healing, and informs my therapy practice.
CONNECT:
I offer a free introductory session (30–50 minutes) to get a feel for whether my approach feels right — fit matters, even if you're not sure yet what you're looking for.
My Practice & Services
I offer secure online therapy to adults across Ontario and British Columbia. Sessions are typically 55 minutes and held via secure video.
In our first session, I'll ask what brought you to therapy at this time, you can ask me any questions you may have, and we'll figure out together whether this approach is right for you. There's no obligation to continue.
The initial consult is to test the waters and see whether, and which, therapy (and therapist) feels right for you, even if you're not sure yet what you’re looking for.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, and the varied patterns complex trauma (cptsd) shows up in people's lives. Much of my work centres on codependency and people-pleasing, difficulty setting and holding boundaries, and a fragile or fragmented sense of self, all of which often trace back to environments where a person's own needs were denied. I also support clients through chronic overwhelm and burnout, grief and life transitions, shame and a harsh inner critic, and patterns of dysfunctional or difficult relationships - working toward understanding where these patterns came from, not just managing their symptoms.
My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy
I believe we are all geared toward self-healing (both physically and emotionally) and under the right conditions, we can reconnect with our own strengths and vitality. Psychotherapy, to me, isn't about fixing what's broken; it's about creating a space where the parts of you that developed as protection (the patterns, defences, and old stories) can be met with curiosity instead of judgment. When we understand why a pattern formed, rather than just trying to eliminate it, real and lasting change becomes possible. My role is to help create the conditions where that understanding, and your own natural capacity for healing, can emerge.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
It's completely normal to feel uncertain about starting therapy - you don't need a clear story or a tidy explanation of what's wrong to begin. "I'm not sure, but something feels off" is enough. I offer an introductory consultation (at no cost) specifically so you can test the waters: ask questions, get a sense of how I work, and see if it feels like a good fit - no commitment. Sometimes people find that just having this conversation brings some clarity, even before any "official" therapy begins.
The Duration and Frequency of Therapy
This is longer-term, depth-oriented work rather than a quick fix. There's no set number of sessions - meaningful shifts often begin to emerge around six months in, and many clients continue for a year or more as new layers of understanding unfold. We typically start weekly to build momentum and safety, then may move to biweekly as things settle. The pace is always collaborative: you're welcome to pause or end the work whenever it feels right for you.
Expertise & Specialties
Age Groups I Work With
Adults
Groups I Work With
I offer online psychodynamic therapy to clients across Ontario and British Columbia who are ready for change. My primary areas of focus include the varied presentations of complex trauma (cptsd). This includes people navigating stress and burnout, dysfunctional relationships, difficulty with boundaries, and challenges with sense of self.
Therapy Services & Specialties
Concerns & Challenges Addressed
AnxietyAttachment IssuesCodependency / DependencyDepressionDissociationEmotional OverwhelmFamily of Origin IssuesIdentity Issues
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
Integration of different therapy modelsInternal Family Systems (IFS)PsychodynamicRelational PsychotherapySensorimotor Psychotherapy