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Karen Young

About Karen Young

BSc (Psych) (Hons), Masters in Gestalt Therapy, speaker, leader in child and adolescent anxiety, and best selling author | heysigmund.com

Karen Young is a leading authority on child and adolescent anxiety, with a background in psychology and extensive experience working with children, teens, families, schools, and organisations.

She is the founder of Hey Sigmund, a globally recognised resource that translates the latest psychological research into practical, accessible strategies for everyday life.

Authoring six books, including the bestselling Hey Warrior, Karen is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and media commentator. Her work is driven by a passion for making psychology understandable, empowering parents, educators, and young people with the knowledge and confidence to thrive.

But credentials only tell part of the story.

Karen believes that with the right information, people can do extraordinary things. Through her writing, speaking, and advocacy, she is committed to helping children and families build resilience, strengthen wellbeing, and navigate the challenges of being human with courage and connection.

Featured In

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  • Growing up: early years to teens
    Growing up: early years to teens
    Growing Up: early years to teens

    Growing up: early years to teens

    From the early years through to adolescence, children’s brains, emotions and relationships change significantly. These developmental shifts influence behaviour, communication and independence, and can sometimes challenge the connections within families. This topic helps parents and carers understand key stages of development from childhood through the teen years. It offers insight into why children’s and adolescents’ needs change over time, and how to stay connected, supportive and responsive as your child grows.

    Karen Young
  • Screen time, cyber safety and AI
    Screen time, cyber safety and AI
    Screen time and online safety

    Screen time, cyber safety and AI

    Digital technology is an everyday part of life for children and teens, offering opportunities for learning, creativity and connection. At the same time, navigating screen time, online safety, social media and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can feel complex and overwhelming for families. This topic is designed to support parents and carers to make informed, balanced decisions about digital use for children and adolescents. It offers guidance on setting boundaries, supporting online safety, and having developmentally appropriate conversations with children and teens about responsible and respectful digital engagement.

    14m Dr. Justin Coulson
  • Anxiety, school avoidance and mental health
    Anxiety, school avoidance and mental health
    Mental health and anxiety

    Anxiety, school avoidance and mental health

    Mental health is an important part of every child and teen's overall wellbeing. While it is normal for children and adolescents to experience stress, anxiety, sadness and emotional ups and downs from time to time, there are occasions when these challenges become more persistent or begin to affect their relationships, learning, daily functioning or sense of hope. As parents and carers, it can be difficult to know when to be concerned, what signs to look for, or how best to support a child or teen who is struggling. The information linked in this topic is designed to help you better understand common mental health challenges, including anxiety, school avoidance, depression, self-harm and suicidal distress. It also provides practical, evidence-informed strategies to strengthen resilience, support emotional wellbeing and guide conversations about seeking help.

    1h 12m Karen Young
  • Big feelings and behaviour
    Big feelings and behaviour
    Big feelings and behaviour

    Big feelings and behaviour

    Strong emotions are a natural part of growing up, for children and for teens. When big feelings lead to challenging behaviour, it can feel confusing and exhausting for families. Children and adolescents are still developing the skills needed to recognise, manage and express emotions, and behaviour is often a sign of stress, overwhelm or unmet needs. This topic is designed to help parents and carers better understand what sits underneath children’s and teens’ behaviour. It offers practical, evidence informed strategies to support emotional regulation, strengthen connection, and respond with empathy while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.

    27m Dr. Justin Coulson
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Guidance for Users

The advice provided on this site and contained within the resources relates to general wellbeing information only and should not be considered medical, psychological, or professional advice. It doesn’t take into account your family’s individual circumstances.

Furthermore, links to external websites are provided for your convenience and to access credible, evidence-based information. Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle does not control, endorse, or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of information on these external sites.

For personalised support, please consult a qualified health professional.
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