With 40 years of experience as an Accredited Mental Health Clinician and Play Therapist, Karen Angel has dedicated her career to helping children and families navigate life’s emotional challenges. Inspired by the growing number of children experiencing anxiety, Karen recently transformed her decades of professional expertise into Wilbur’s Worry Clouds, an engaging and practical children’s book designed to help young readers understand their worries and build lifelong coping skills. As she continues to run her private practice while developing a series of books on children’s emotional wellbeing, Karen remains passionate about giving families the tools they need to start important conversations and support children’s mental health from an early age.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I have been an Accredited Mental Health Clinician and Play Therapist for 40 years, and throughout my career I have had a special interest in helping children manage anxiety. I wanted to share my knowledge in a way that was engaging, practical and accessible for families.
With an estimated one in three children now experiencing anxiety, early intervention is more important than ever. My book helps children understand what anxiety is, why they experience it, and learn ways to deal with it.
The activities throughout the book are designed to be fun and to encourage meaningful conversations about feelings.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
My journey began with publishing my book, Wilbur’s Worry Clouds, at the start of 2026.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Without a doubt, publishing my book was my biggest breakthrough. Seeing my years of experience transformed into a resource that can help children and families has been incredibly rewarding.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I’m lucky to have a very supportive family who have helped me with both the book and its marketing. Their encouragement and involvement have made balancing everything much easier.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Alongside writing and promoting the book, I continue to run my private practice, Telephone Counselling Australia. Finding the time to manage both has been my biggest challenge, but it’s one I’m passionate about because I believe these resources can make a real difference to children’s lives.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
One of the greatest advantages is the freedom to do work that I’m passionate about and to set my own schedule. Like any small business owner, there are challenges, but the flexibility and ability to create resources that help others make it all worthwhile.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’m already working on my second children’s book, which focuses on grief and loss. I also plan to write future books exploring anger and depression, creating a series that helps children and families better understand and manage a range of emotions.
Visit worryclouds.com.au to find out more about Wilbur’s Worry Clouds and to purchase a copy. You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
