About Karen
Karen Lau is a Hong Kong-based registered Clinical Psychologist (SRP) who has trained in leading institutions of the Asia-Pacific region (National University of Singapore, The University of Hong Kong and The Australian National University) so as to better serve those facing challenges in this unique context.
Karen has a special interest and expertise in treating youths and adults who struggle with anxiety disorders: Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), specific phobias, and Panic Disorder. Her interests and expertise also extend to working with youths and adults who struggle with chronic self-harm, Complex PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder. In helping her clients overcome these challenges, Karen applies comprehensive evidence-based treatments including Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and effective third wave therapies such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), and Schema Therapy. Karen’s clients have also benefitted from specific treatments such as Imagery Rescripting for early traumatic experiences, Mindfulness for acute stress, and Narrative Therapy for anger management.
Karen has worked with a culturally and demographically diverse client base in clinical psychology clinics, national hospitals, and community settings in Singapore and Hong Kong. Karen is effectively trilingual and able to conduct treatment in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Apart from her clinical work, Karen had also been working with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) as a Mental Health Supervisor and at Mind (Hong Kong) as a Clinical Advisor. She is also a Visiting Lecturer of the BSc Psychology programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
When she is off clinical duties, Karen dedicates much of her time to humanitarian work, a cause close to her heart. Karen has taught in developing countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Madagascar, Mongolia, mainland China and the Philippines. She has served with UNICEF where she advocated for children’s welfare in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Karen also regularly assists children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders in therapeutic activities such as sailing and horseback riding.
Website images shot during service trips in Hong Kong, Ghana, Kenya and the Philippines.