About
Karen van Huffel
I’ve worn many hats — worked in different roles, homeschooled our kids (all but one), run remote businesses, and picked up a bunch of qualifications along the way. Each experience has shaped how I understand people, resilience, and the many ways we navigate life.
Counselling is where my heart is. It brings together what I’ve learned in life and work, letting me support others with empathy and honesty.
I’m a wife and mum to four kids who keep life interesting. Our family is openly neurodiverse, and we each experience and express the world in our own way. Relationships haven’t always been easy — we’ve had to work hard to understand each other as a couple, as parents, and as a family unit. Navigating different sensory needs, communication styles, and perspectives has deepened our compassion and connection.
One thing that reliably brings us together is food. We all have different sensory orientations, but share a genuine love of flavours, textures, and the ritual of eating together. When we plan holidays, it’s often less about the destination and more about the food journey we get to enjoy along the way.
For me, counselling isn’t about fixing anyone — it’s about creating space for reflection, connection, and steady growth. I believe in the strength people carry, even when it feels buried, and in the real change that can happen when we’re met with care and respect.
About
Werner van Huffel
My path to counselling wasn’t a straight one. I’ve spent many years working in ICT and studying at university, taking on a range of roles across large corporations and small businesses—some high-level, some more hands-on, and everything in between. Throughout that time, one thing remained consistent: I was often the person people came to when they needed someone to talk to, someone who would listen without judgment. Those conversations—whether around work challenges or life more broadly—was where I found real meaning. I began to realise that the moments that mattered most were always about connection, support, and making a positive difference in someone’s life.
I’m proudly neurodivergent, as are my wife and children (all ADHD and Autistic, spread to varying degrees across the spectra - for those who are curious). Our family has taken some unconventional paths, including homeschooling our children after recognising that traditional school environments—both public and private—weren’t helping them thrive. We faced systems that struggled to see the individual in front of them, and we knew we had to try something different. It wasn’t always easy, but it was right for us. Our children (and the 2 of us) are now thriving, supported by a community of friends and family who truly understand and accept them.
As a family, we’re big on shared experience—whether it’s gaming (a passion most of the kids inherited from me), cooking together, discovering new places, or even having one of our many “spirited debates” (read “loud, passionate arguments”). We argue because we care deeply, and because we all see the world in unique ways, and sometimes it is difficult to express that to others who think differently. It’s through these shared experiences—joyful, messy, and meaningful—that we’ve grown closer and learned what matters most to us.
That’s what led us—my wife and I—to study psychology together. It was a challenging, eye-opening journey, especially because we approach life from different but complementary perspectives. But we knew we wanted to turn what we had learned into something that could help others. For me, counselling is about being part of someone’s support system, connecting with them and helping them move through and toward a life they want, in the way that’s right for them. It’s a role I take seriously and with deep care.
Our Approaches
We all come to counselling with different stories, needs, and ways of making sense of the world — so it makes sense that no single approach fits everyone. That’s why we draw on a mix of evidence-based therapy styles, depending on what’s going on for you and where you're at. We’re passionate about what we do, so we continually learn, read widely, and further develop our qualifications to ensure we’re offering the best support possible. Some approaches focus on understanding patterns, others offer practical strategies for the here and now, or help clarify where you'd like to head. We blend and adapt these methods to support you in a way that feels useful, respectful, and grounded in your goals. It’s not about ticking off techniques — it’s about choosing what fits, when it fits, to support healing, growth, and meaningful change.