I had the pleasure of meeting Karen during our Clinical Resource Therapy training at the Australia Resource Therapy Institute. It is lovely to see her warmth, generosity and experience reflected in Holding the Helper.

Karen combines heartfelt storytelling, humour and practical guidance. I laughed aloud in places and appreciated her willingness to speak honestly about the hard stuff.

A particular highlight is her use of parts-focused meditation. The invitation to recognise a calm, capable part of ourselves brings the idea of inner resources to life. It reminds us that, even during uncertainty, a part of us has continued caring, managing and showing up. I value this compassionate invitation to notice our strengths and offer ourselves some of the support we so readily give others.

A warm and practical companion for those who spend so much of their lives helping others.

– Philipa Thornton, Psychologist, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Australia Resource Therapy Institute, President of Resource Therapy International

I am pleased to provide this testimonial for Karen’s new book – Holding the Helper: Supporting the Cancer Caregiver. As the President of Australian Institute of Kinesiologists Limited (AIK Ltd), I value resources that combine compassion with practical, evidence-informed support for individuals navigating complex health journeys.

This book is notably thoughtful, caring, and compassionate, offering a rare and valuable insight into the needs of caregivers and supporters. Karen provides supportive techniques that are both accessible and genuinely helpful, addressing not only the challenges people face, but also the wellbeing of the person providing care.

I recommend this book to professionals and members of the community seeking guidance that is empathetic, constructive, and solution-focused. It is a meaningful addition to the resources available for those who need informed and compassionate support.

Verona Gibson – President Australian Institute Kinesiologists Ltd (AIK Ltd)

Holding the Helper is a powerful and compassionate resource that offers an honest insight into the realities of diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional journey that follows, not only for the person experiencing it, but also for those supporting them.

Karen combines heartfelt storytelling with practical, evidence-informed strategies that help readers navigate uncertainty, process difficult emotions, and find strength during challenging times. This is an invaluable read for anyone supporting a loved one through illness.

Helen Spicer : Counsellor + Clinical Supervisor
Your Path Counselling Pty Ltd

This book is both a gift and a blessing that is so incredibly needed in our current times.

After being a carer for my Mum throughout her two-year cancer diagnosis, I know firsthand the emotional and physical toll of caring for someone you love through cancer. I experienced the exhaustion of decision fatigue, the heartache of anticipatory loss and the overwhelming grief that followed her passing. My body was exhausted and the grief felt like more than I could possibly hold.

Having a book that is grounded not only in lived experience but also in the wisdom and perspective of a professional energy medicine practitioner is such a gift.

Through heartfelt storytelling, somatic and breathwork techniques, energetic practices, and emotional support, this book offers simple yet incredibly powerful ways to support yourself through one of life’s most challenging experiences.

What makes this book so special is that it recognises the carer, too. The person who is holding so much, often quietly, while navigating the uncertainty, heartbreak and emotional demands of cancer.

It offers a gentle reminder that carers need care too. That our bodies, our emotions and our grief need to be acknowledged, supported and held.

I wish I had this book while caring for Mum. I know how much it would have meant to have these practices and this understanding beside me during those incredibly difficult years.

A beautiful, compassionate and much needed resource for anyone walking alongside someone they love through cancer.  You are not alone.

 – Bianca Jewell, Master Kinesiopractor®, Principal of The School of Elemental Kinesiology®

Holding the Helper is a beautifully thoughtful and much-needed resource for anyone navigating the emotional and physical demands of caregiving. I especially appreciate how it recognises the whole cancer experience, from the uncertainty before diagnosis through treatment and into recovery, while offering practical tools that can be used along the way.

The combination of real understanding, somatic practices and guided meditations makes this more than a book; it is a compassionate resource caregivers can return to whenever they need support.

It is an essential tool for everyone whose loved one is travelling this experience.

Jacque Mooney, International Speaker, Instructor & Author, Simply The Brain

I’ve just finished reading Holding the Helper, and it is BRILLIANT! While I have not been a carer for someone through their cancer journey, I am a carer for someone dealing with high blood pressure and other heart issues, and some of this felt very relevant for all carers – those who are holding space and supporting loved ones through any healing crisis.

I loved all the deeper dive sections and the somatic exercises.

As always, your work feels deeply researched and actionable while also being relatable. You covered the whole gamut of emotions carers go through – from jealousy to resentment to exhaustion on all levels.

Caitlin Grace, Author & Mentor

I’m so grateful to recommend Holding the Helper: Supporting the Cancer Caregiver. Karen’s new book is exactly what its title promises: a steady, compassionate place to land for the person doing the “invisible work” alongside someone living with cancer.

What struck me most is her thoughtful, caring voice—and the rare kind of insight that doesn’t just acknowledge how hard caregiving is, but offers supportive, practical techniques to help you hold yourself while you hold another. The guidance feels grounded in genuine experience and deep understanding, not theory. You can tell Karen has walked this path and also knows, professionally and personally, what helpers need most.

This is more than encouragement. It’s a resource companion for the tough parts of the journey—before diagnosis, through treatment, and into recovery—offering tools that help caregivers regulate, reflect, and prevent burnout. If you’re looking for wisdom that feels both human and workable, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Verona Gibson, Clinical Hypnotherapist, The Awakening Essence

“Holding The Helper” is a delightfully written resource. Separated into sections it provides the reader with a useful sequence to approach the challenging time of supporting a loved one through the life-changing chapter of a cancer experience.

The beautiful quotes sprinkled throughout are thought-provoking. The practice points with their “best used” suggestions provide the reader with examples of when to apply the practice.  

I can hear Kaz’s voice in every word on the page- so authentic, so useful, so important. 

 -Peta Lewellin, Founder of Forget Me Not Midwifery