Karen Treisman

Dr Karen Treisman, MBE, is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist and Organizational Consultant who has worked in the NHS and children’s services for several years. Karen has also worked cross-culturally in both Africa and Asia with groups ranging from former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide.

Karen has extensive experience in the areas of trauma, parenting, and attachment, and works clinically using a range of therapeutic approaches with families, systems, and children in or on the edge of care, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, and adopted children. Karen supports over 90 different organisations on their journey to become more trauma, adversity, and culturally informed, infused, and responsive organisations. Karen also is an expert witness for court specialising in child protection.

In addition to holding a doctorate in Clinical psychology, Karen has undergone a range of specialist trainings including in EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Sensory Intervention, Video Interaction Guidance, and Theraplay.

Karen has previously worked in numerous Looked after Children and fostering services, and within the National Implementation Service for evidence-based interventions for Looked after children, children on the edge of care, and children in custody at the Michael Rutter Centre in the Maudsley Hospital; and as a Clinical Lead for a court assessment and intensive parenting intervention team for children on the edge of care and in proceedings within Islington.

Karen is the director of Safe Hands and Thinking Minds training and consultancy services. www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk. Karen is also a tedX speaker on the power of relationships.

Karen is an external consultant, trainer, and assessor to several local authorities, schools, charities, prisons, and to a variety of organisations including GrandparentsPlus, Barnardos, PAC-UK, AdoptionPlus, Pause, Three Steps, and the Fostering Network.

Karen is a TedX speaker and the winner of several Psychologist of the year awards; as well as being an MBE (Queens Honour list 2020). Karen regularly presents at local, national, and international trauma, parenting, and attachment conferences.

Karen was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship which focused on trauma, adversity, and culturally informed, infused, and responsive organisational transformation.

See www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk for a range of events, trainings, online modules, and workshops by Dr Treisman; and a selection of podcasts and further trauma and attachment-related resources.

Karen is a member of the CoramBAAF health group advisory committee, and a reviewer for the Journal of Adoption and Fostering.

In her free time, Karen is passionate about travelling and art. She is a self-confessed foodie and is often found trying out new eateries, exploring London's hidden gems, going on canal walks, or planning her next travelling adventure (Near and far).