Karl Jacks

Founder and Director
Credentialed Mental Health Nurse

Karl Jacks is the Founder and Director of Vista Advanced Psychological Therapy. He is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and highly experienced trauma therapist with more than 20 years of clinical experience across Australia and the United Kingdom.

Before establishing Vista, Karl served as a Queensland Health Clinical Nurse Consultant in trauma therapy, supporting people with some of the most complex trauma presentations within the North Queensland mental health service. His broader experience includes senior roles in specialist mental health services.

Karl is often sought out by people who have tried to manage their difficulties themselves, or who have previously attended therapy but continue to feel stuck. His work is particularly suited to people seeking more than short-term coping strategies—people who want to understand what is driving recurring patterns beneath the surface and create meaningful, lasting change.

His approach is calm, structured and purposeful. Karl works collaboratively to develop a clear understanding of what is happening, why it may be continuing and what needs to change. Therapy is guided by careful formulation, evidence-informed treatment and regular review, rather than ongoing sessions without clear direction.

People often choose Karl because they are looking for substantial trauma experience, clinical depth and a therapist that remains steady and focused when the issues are complex. He provides a discreet and professional therapeutic process in which clients can feel understood, supported and confident that the work has a clear purpose.

Confidential consultations are available in person at Vista’s Surfers Paradise practice or online.

CLIENT GROUPS

Karl may be particularly well suited to adults who:

want a therapist with expertise in trauma therapy, clear direction and an outcome-focused approach to meaningful change
have experienced trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD or unresolved adverse experiences
have vivid memories of past experiences, or gaps in their memory and periods of life they cannot clearly recall, yet still feel that the past continues to affect them
continue to feel stuck despite previous therapy, support or sustained efforts to manage things themselves
understand their difficulties intellectually but have not experienced the change they hoped for
appear capable and function well externally while feeling distressed, overwhelmed or disconnected internally
experience recurring patterns of anxiety, avoidance, hypervigilance, shame or difficulties with trust and relationships
want therapy that goes beyond coping strategies to understand and address what may be maintaining their difficulties
prefer therapy with clear structure, meaningful goals and a personalised approach—not endless talking without direction

Karl is particularly suited to people seeking a therapist with extensive trauma experience, clinical depth and the ability to remain calm and steady when the issues are complex. His work focuses on understanding how present-day difficulties may have developed as adaptations to past experiences, identifying the deeper patterns that continue to keep a person stuck, and working toward meaningful resolution.

Therapeutic Approaches

Karl’s therapy is structured, focused and personalised. The first appointment is an opportunity to understand what has been happening, how it is affecting your life, what you would like to change and the most appropriate direction for therapy.

Karl draws from a range of evidence-informed approaches, depending on your experiences, goals and individual needs. These may include:

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
EMDR 2.0
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Grounding and emotional regulation strategies
Targeted psychological strategies for clarity, focus and responding under pressure

Karl does not use a one-size-fits-all approach. Therapy is tailored to the person, rather than expecting the person to fit a particular therapy model.

Where trauma processing is appropriate, the pace is carefully considered. Preparation, support and regular review are built into the process so that therapy remains purposeful, manageable and directed toward meaningful change.

Performance Therapy (Psychological Performance Enhancement)

Karl also works with people whose performance is being affected by pressure, stress, overthinking, burnout, emotional strain, reduced confidence or difficulty thinking clearly.

This is not coaching. It is an evidence-informed therapeutic approach that looks beneath the immediate performance difficulty to understand and address the patterns interfering with how a person thinks, responds and functions under pressure.

This work may be particularly relevant for people who:

make decisions that carry significant consequences
work in demanding or high-responsibility environments
need to maintain clarity, composure and consistency under pressure
experience hesitation, mental noise, slower decision-making or reduced confidence
want to respond more effectively rather than react automatically under pressure

The focus is on understanding what is interfering with performance and applying targeted psychological strategies to support clearer thinking, stronger emotional regulation, greater confidence and more consistent functioning.

Qualifications & Professional Background

Karl is:

Founder and Director of Vista Advanced Psychological Therapy
AHPRA-registered health professional
Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
Highly experienced therapist with expertise in trauma therapy, xperienced in supporting people with PTSD, complex PTSD, dissociation and trauma-related conditions
Former Queensland Health Clinical Nurse Consultant in trauma therapy; and
- Queensland Health TUH Mental Health Nurse of the Year, 2015
More than 25 years of clinical experience across the United Kingdom and Australia.
Experienced in senior roles across public mental health, specialist services, private brain injury services and trauma-focused care
Experienced in high-pressure environments and complex psychological presentations
Trained in a range of trauma-focused approaches, including work with adults, adolescents, autistic people, people with intellectual disability, first responders and complex trauma presentations
A provider of professional trauma training and education to other therapists, mental health professionals and organisations
A member of EMDR-related professional associations

Karl established Vista Advanced Psychological Therapy and led its development into a multi-award-winning therapy service, recognised through merit-based awards including:

Trauma Counselling Specialists of the Year 2026 – Queensland
Trauma Counselling Excellence Award 2026
Best Emerging Psychological Therapy Practice 2026 – Australia

Referral Pathways / Availability

Referral Pathways Karl accepts suitable referrals through the following pathways, where eligibility, approval and funding requirements are confirmed: Private (self-funded), NDIS self-managed or plan-managed referrals, WorkCover or insurance-related referrals.Clients may self-refer privately. Referrals may also come from GPs, psychiatrists, specialists, allied health professionals, insurers, rehabilitation providers, support coordinators or other relevant professionals.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Karl’s clinical work is particularly focused on:

Trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD
Complex trauma and repeated adverse experiences, including historical / childhood adversity, abuse, neglect, sexual trauma and domestic or family violence
Dissociation and trauma-related disconnection
Functional Neurological Disorder and somatic or stress-related symptoms where trauma or stress may be relevant
Autism and trauma
Anxiety, hypervigilance and avoidance
Shame, self-worth and trauma-related beliefs
Phobias and fear-based difficulties
Complex grief and unresolved loss
Trauma-related difficulties with relationships, trust and connection