(she/her)
Hi, my name is Karin (pronounced Ca-Lin). I am bilingual in Burmese and English and am both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor. I strive to create a warm, inclusive environment where individuals from all backgrounds feel heard, valued, and respected. My approach is grounded in cultural awareness and appreciation, recognizing and honoring the unique experiences and perspectives each person brings to our work together. Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious in social settings, or experiencing persistent sadness? Are you finding it difficult to balance your relationships, work, and overall well-being? Do you struggle to show yourself the same kindness you offer others? I support individuals who are experiencing anxiety and depression. Together, we will explore what may not be working and identify ways to help you regain a sense of balance. My approach integrates a whole-person perspective with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), focusing on the connection between mind, body, and spirit.
First, it’s important to create a welcoming environment where you feel safe, comfortable, and have a sense of ownership over your therapy session. From there, I focus on getting to know you by actively listening to your needs and the goals you hope to achieve—this phase is known as rapport building. Next, we will work collaboratively to set realistic and attainable goals, and finally, we will discuss therapy expectations and how we can best support your progress moving forward.
My greatest strengths as a provider include empathy, active listening, strong communication, patience, and a nonjudgmental approach. I value building meaningful rapport with clients and bring keen observation, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of human behavior to my work. These qualities help create a safe and supportive space where clients feel comfortable sharing their experiences and working toward healing.
I am best equipped to serve clients ages 18 to 98 from all ethnicities, backgrounds, interests, and life experiences. As long as a client is open to exploration, dialogue, and honest reflection about their story and challenges—and willing to recognize patterns that may be creating difficulties—my extensive experience working with thousands of individuals from diverse backgrounds has shown that the fundamental human drive to grow, realize potential, and find meaning, fulfillment, and well-being is something we all share.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
My approach to therapy is primarily based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which means I help you identify and challenge negative thought patterns, and work on changing unhelpful behaviors that may be contributing to your struggles. CBT is evidence-based and focuses on the present, helping you develop practical tools for coping with challenges in your daily life. However, I also take an eclectic approach, which means that I may integrate other therapeutic techniques from different modalities when they seem beneficial for you. This could include elements from other approaches like mindfulness, psychodynamic therapy, or solution-focused therapy. The goal is to customize the therapy to fit what will work best for you, based on your specific concerns, preferences, and goals. In other words, while CBT is the foundation of our work together, I will draw from other approaches as needed to make sure we are using the most effective methods for your personal growth and healing.