Hi I’m Karen Marie Johnston, a multi-award-winning specialist consultant and trainer creating trauma-informed systems change within the health and social care and beyond.
My work is informed by social policy and social work, lived experience and decades of frontline practice in some of the UK's highest risk settings. I bring research-led, relational social work, into a range of clinical settings and to improve outcomes for teams including maternity services, general practice and sexual health.
If you have arrived here looking for exceptional, relational training for your team - you are in the right place.
I am a lead trainer within the health and social care sector in the UK.
Trusted by healthcare and frontline services
✓ Trained 500+ medical professionals across Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (2025–2026)
✓ Specialist in training lead consultants in Sexual Health, Gynaecology, Maternity Services and Obstetrics in Trauma-Informed Intimate Examinations.
✓ 25+ years frontline experience in high risk settings (street outreach, sex work, prison)
✓ First Class Honours (Social Policy) 2005
✓ MSc Social Work 2008
✓ Specialist in trauma informed care, C-PTSD recovery, nervous system-informed interventions and lived experience leadership.
“I can’t think of anyone else who would have been able to hold and deliver this work with such integrity, expertise, skill and thoughtfulness.Thank you for bringing your full, authentic self into this and for being so committed and passionate. I have no doubt that it has already brought about much needed change and created a foundation to continue to develop trauma-informed work in this area.”
Hazel Renouf , Trauma-Informed Systems Manager for BNSSG Integrated Care Board
About Karen
I’m Karen Marie Johnston, an award-winning trainer and consultant. My work sits at the intersection of social policy, lived experience, frontline practice and trauma-informed systems change. I’m an inspirational speaker offering a unique mix of relational intelligence, humour and academic rigor.
I have spent more than twenty-five years working alongside people experiencing high levels of exploitation, working within the sex industry, domestic and sexual violence, homelessness and complex trauma while also developing specialist programmes that support recovery, workforce wellbeing and organisational change.
