Karlien is an occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience in mental health, specialising in the treatment of eating disorders. She has worked across both inpatient and outpatient settings and has a particular interest in supporting clients through practical, day-to-day recovery.
Karlien authored the chapter “The Assessment and Treatment of Eating Disorders in Occupational Therapy” in Crouch and Alers’ Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry and Mental Health, and presented at South Africa’s first Eating Disorder Conference in May 2024 on “Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment: Starting the Healing Process.”
Her therapeutic approach centres on helping clients build a meaningful life that feels worth living. She is passionate about understanding the lived experiences of individuals with eating disorders and is committed to ongoing reflection around body image and societal standards—including her own. By continuously working on her personal biases, Karlien aims to offer more attuned and effective support.
At Orri, Karlien is part of the online treatment team and is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
