I'm Karen, and I'm here to help support your journey to wellness. I hold a PhD in Counseling, and I am licensed in both Florida (LMHC) and Maryland (LCPC). I've worked with clients in counseling and have trained counseling graduate students for over 20 years. Early in my career, I specialized in helping clients work through interpersonal trauma, such as sexual abuse and physical abuse. Since then, I have widened my scope of practice to more general needs, such as anxiety and depression, but always with an awareness of trauma-informed practice when applicable. I work with children, adolescents, and adults. I believe there is always room for hope and optimism, and that compassion, empathy, and understanding bring us greater fulfillment in our lives. My passion for travel and photography have taught me how a change of perspective can fundamentally change the way the world looks. Hope I can help YOU get a change of perspective in your life!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
You are the expert of your life and while I have much knowledge about the therapeutic process, change begins and ends with YOU. Tools that I may integrate into the work we do include brief scales to measure your depression or anxiety, as needed; and useful techniques grounded in Cognitive Behavioral or Solution-Focused theories.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Above all else, I wish to create a safe space for clients to share, and to grow in their therapy. While therapy isn't always a comfortable process, I wish for clients to be comforted in knowing that I am a non-judgmental person devoted to supporting the journey to healing, to a better quality of life, or to new perspectives. I am knowledgeable, experienced, compassionate, and open-minded. I believe in the power of our resiliency as humans, and I look forward to helping you foster yours.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
My professional tenure has been focused on supporting the mental health needs of women and children. My clients are often eager to improve, but don't yet have the tools needed to make this goal a reality.