Karen is the course lead for the Advanced Diploma in Supervision at IFT. Karen has taught at IFT since 2013,  and teaches systemic theory and practice at Kings College on their CYP-MH Systemic Family Practice diploma, which has a strong focus on evidence-based systemic interventions.

Karen Burgess has over 20 years’ experience as a Systemic Family Therapist and Social worker working in Children’s Services in both Social Care and the NHS. Practicing in both London and East Sussex. She is a qualified and experienced Systemic Supervisor and is currently in private clinical practice in Hastings.

Karen also has ten years’ experience of leading, managing and developing clinical services. She has an interest in developing services that are flexible working in the community she influenced and was influenced by being part of Hackney’s “Reclaiming Social Work” and Newham’s Reframe Team.
Karen’s current interest in supervision and training is driven by a belief in promoting self-care and a supportive agency culture to prevent staff burn out. This has become particularly important in an ever changing social world that puts further pressures on clients, therapists, and supervisors.   

She also has an interest in focusing on promoting supervisors/therapists to have confidence in providing support to families from evidence-based practice and making space to develop creative interventions in times of constraint.  Her focus is very much to help promote students/ practitioners to feel supported by ensuring emerging supervisors who can provide excellent systemic supervision and reflective practice.