(she/her)
New to Grow
Welcome! My name is Karin, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Congratulations on taking this important first step in prioritizing your mental health—it's not always easy, and it matters. I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is at the heart of the healing process. I strive to create a space grounded in trust, respect, and authenticity, where you can feel comfortable, supported, and free from judgment. Together, we’ll explore what has and hasn’t been helpful for you in the past, using that insight to guide meaningful change. Therapy with me is collaborative. We’ll develop goals together and move at a pace that feels right for you. I use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), while also integrating other modalities to support both insight and practical change. My work is holistic, focusing on your mental and physical well-being as connected parts of a whole. I incorporate tools such as breathing and yoga-based techniques to help calm the mind, along with somatic exercises that support nervous system regulation—helping to reduce anxiety, release tension, and process trauma. Whether you’re feeling stuck, struggling with anxiety or anger, or looking to express yourself more freely and build discipline, I aim to equip you with tools that foster courage, creativity, and forward momentum. Life brings challenges, both big and small—but with the right support and tools, those challenges can become opportunities for meaningful growth and lasting change.
Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, and it’s completely natural to have a mix of emotions entering into your first session. My goal is to create a welcoming, supportive space where you feel safe to show up just as you are—no pressure, no judgment, and no expectations to share more than you’re ready for. In our first session together, we’ll focus on getting to know you and what brings you into therapy. You’ll have the opportunity to share your concerns, your goals, and what you hope to gain from this experience, all at a pace that feels comfortable for you. I may ask questions to better understand your background, current challenges, and any past experiences with therapy, but this is always a collaborative conversation—not an interrogation. I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is an essential part of the healing process. To support that, I approach our work with trust, respect, and authenticity. I strive to create an open and comfortable environment where you can feel at ease being yourself. Our first session is also a chance for you to get a feel for my style and approach, and to decide whether working together feels like the right fit for you. As we talk, we’ll begin identifying your strengths, as well as areas you’d like to focus on. Together, we’ll explore what may be contributing to your current challenges and start building a clearer understanding of your experiences. From there, we’ll discuss how therapy can support you and begin shaping a plan that feels practical, collaborative, and aligned with your needs. By the end of our first meeting, my hope is that you leave feeling heard, supported, and with a clearer sense of direction. You may also walk away with initial tools, coping strategies, or new perspectives to help you begin navigating your challenges. Most importantly, you’ll have a better understanding of how we can work together moving forward. Therapy is not just about addressing problems—it’s about deepening your internal understanding so you can strengthen your relationship with yourself and others. Our first session is simply the beginning of that process, and we’ll take it one step at a time, together.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to help you feel both deeply understood and meaningfully challenged. I don’t believe therapy is just about talking through problems—I want you to leave each session with clarity, new perspective, and tools you can actually use in your daily life. My approach is active, supportive, and focused on helping you create real, lasting change. A core part of my work is equipping you with tangible skills while also helping you shift the way you see yourself and your experiences. I believe strongly that your past does not have to define your future. Together, we’ll work on shedding the weight of old patterns that may be holding you back, while building practical strategies to navigate life with greater confidence and intention. This combination of insight and action has consistently helped my clients feel more empowered, more in control, and more connected to their sense of self. I also pride myself on my ability to connect with clients on a genuine, human level. I meet you where you are—with compassion, empathy, and a non-judgmental presence—so you feel safe enough to be open and honest. At the same time, I will gently challenge you when needed, because growth often happens just outside of your comfort zone. My goal is to strike that balance so you feel supported, but also encouraged to move forward. Another strength I value is my honesty and self-awareness as a clinician. If I ever feel that I’m not the best fit for your needs, or that another provider could better support you in a specific area, I will be transparent and help guide you in the right direction. Your well-being always comes first. With over 15 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker, along with my 200-hour yoga teacher certification, I bring a holistic, person-centered approach to therapy. I integrate mind-body techniques and somatic practices to support nervous system regulation, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. Research continues to show that strengthening the mind-body connection can enhance mood, increase resilience, and support both mental and physical health—and I incorporate these principles into our work together in a practical, accessible way. Overall, what stands out about my approach is the balance of compassion and action, insight and skill-building, and mental and physical wellness. My goal is not just to help you cope—but to help you grow, heal, and move forward with a stronger sense of clarity.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) within a whole-person, person-centered approach to support meaningful and lasting change. This means we don’t just focus on your thoughts—we look at how your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and life experiences are all interconnected. Together, we identify unhelpful patterns that may be contributing to anxiety or depression and work to reframe them in a way that feels more balanced and empowering. At the same time, I incorporate practical coping skills you can use in everyday life, along with mind-body techniques to help regulate your nervous system and reduce stress. By combining evidence-based CBT strategies with a holistic understanding of you as a whole person, the goal is not only to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, but also to strengthen your overall resilience, self-awareness, and ability to navigate challenges with greater confidence.
Mind-body approach
I use a mind-body approach in therapy to help you understand and strengthen the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and physical experiences. Stress, anxiety, and past experiences don’t just live in the mind—they can show up in the body as tension, fatigue, or a heightened sense of overwhelm. By bringing awareness to these patterns, we can begin to gently shift them. In our work together, I incorporate techniques such as breathwork, grounding, and somatic exercises to help regulate your nervous system and create a greater sense of calm and balance. This approach supports not only emotional healing, but also physical well-being, allowing you to feel more present, centered, and in control in your daily life.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I incorporate mindfulness into therapy to help you slow down, become more present, and develop a deeper awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Rather than getting caught up in worry about the future or replaying the past, mindfulness helps you stay grounded in the present moment with greater clarity and self-compassion. In our sessions, this may include simple practices such as focused breathing, body awareness, or gently observing thoughts without judgment. These tools can help you better manage stress, reduce anxiety, and respond to challenges in a more calm and intentional way. Over time, mindfulness can strengthen your ability to pause, reflect, and choose how you want to move forward, rather than reacting automatically.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing as a collaborative, client-centered approach to help you explore your thoughts and feelings about change without pressure or judgment. Rather than telling you what to do, I work alongside you to better understand your goals, values, and any ambivalence you may be experiencing. Through open-ended questions, reflective listening, and gentle guidance, I help you identify what matters most to you and strengthen your own motivation for change. This approach empowers you to make decisions that feel authentic and sustainable, building confidence in your ability to move forward in a way that aligns with who you are and where you want to go.
Somatic
I incorporate somatic therapy into my practice to help you tune into the connection between your body and your emotional experiences. Often, stress, anxiety, and past trauma are stored in the body, showing up as tension, restlessness, or a sense of being overwhelmed. By gently bringing awareness to these physical sensations, we can begin to process and release what may feel stuck. In our work together, I use techniques such as grounding, breathwork, and body-based awareness to support nervous system regulation and create a greater sense of safety and balance. This approach can help reduce anxiety, release built-up tension, and improve your ability to respond to stress in a more calm and centered way, supporting healing from the inside out.