About

Karen uses a mindfulness-based philosophy and practices a humanistic, client-centered approach to psychotherapy. She incorporates different perspectives and outlooks to help clients set their goals to meet their individualized needs. Karen believes the real healing is found within; so she provides a sacred space that ensures her clients a safe environment to gain personal insight where changes can begin.

With over twenty years of clinical experience treating individuals and families, Karen specializes in relational, behavioral, and emotional issues. Her background and clinical training are based on human behavior and development, while incorporating the social environment and family systems perspective. Karen focuses on prevention and intervention to find solutions that empower her clients to become successful. She assists her clients to navigate the complexities in everyday life. Her ability to build trust and rapport with clients is remarkable, and because of this her they are open to all levels of growth. 

Karen prides herself in her genuine and direct style to counseling; she is honest, descrete and sensitive to each person’s needs. There are no cookie cutter approaches to life, especially when working with an individuals growth and healing. Changing things up is necessary when what we’re doing is no longer working. Karen is an active therapist, challenging her clients to participate in their health and wellness process. She will focus on you and always provide the support and time needed to address all who work with her. 

Additional services at times are needed, Karen provides a clinical approach to coaching that provides more accountability and support if warranted. Individual’s struggling with complex professional or educational issues may want to add coaching to enhance their growth. This type of service allows for Karen to spend additional time with her clients to assist and work through a variety of circumstances. Karen calls this a clinical coaching prospective and these types of sessions may vary in time, length and location according to her clients needs.

Men’s Mental Health & Wellness

Karen’s genuine and professional work with men has developed over the years, starting with her earlier work with fathers and parenting. As her career evolved, her experience and training began to develop and her understanding of complex issues with men began. Whether there’s a major life transition or the stressors of life, Karen’s ability to connect and work with men’s mental health and wellness is phenomenal. Karen is able to differentiate the challenges of societal norms of men and women. She doesn’t hold back and encourages her clients to strive for more emotional connection and balance. The dramatic differences in how men and woman show and express their feelings is huge; one is more socially acceptable, while the other is perceived as weak.

The challenges men face with emotional connectedness and expression of feelings is established way before birth, its conditioned through family dynamics, upbringing and societal norms. The need for healthy emotional expression and vulnerability is apparent in todays society, because miscommunication and consequences result in negative behaviors, mental health and medical issues at times. Majority of the issues faced in counseling with men vary; maybe they're reactive and excessive on how to handle their emotions. Sometimes, the biggest issues comes from the inability to process their real feelings openly and honestly. Causes of emotional, mental, physical and spiritual dilemma’s is seen as stress, anxiety, anger or depression impacting both their personal or professional lives. Karen doesn’t believe men should check their masculinity at the door, it’s about the internal exploration of building a true authentic self, so learning how vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

Individuals and Families

Karen treats depression, anxiety and most mental health issues; she does specialize with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for adolescents and adults. Other specialities and interests include grief and loss; chronic substance abuse with co-occurring disorders; professional and executive counseling; and men’s issues pertaining to anger, anxiety, and conflicts with relational and emotional connectedness. 

Karen’s training and experience with children and families has focused on the interpersonal conflicts impact marriage, divorce, parenting, education and careers. Her career has spanned over twenty years working with children and families, advocating and counseling specific children’s needs through play therapy, psychotherapy and groups. Karen has benefited worked with several nationally known non-profit organizations, universities and agencies in the first half of her career. Not only with direct practice, but administratively running large programs within different communities. Her work with adolescents and college students continues, both populations that remain close to her heart. Whether it’s emotional or behavioral conflicts or social or professional issues, Karen is known for her incredible and successful work with children and families over her career. 

Professionals

Because of her expertise in early development and family dynamics, Karen has a better psychological understanding of the “root causes” and/or reasons why many people feel stagnant or “stuck” in life.  Karen incorporates this type of knowledge when working with all her clients, but helping her adult and professional clients clear these barriers so success and healing can transpire.  Karen ensures the therapeutic process encompasses several pieces; and education, introspection and reflection are essential to achieve the solutions for better insight and understanding. This process leads to symptom reduction, improved communication and better interpersonal skills. Karen’s main focus is about building trusting relationships and creating a nonjudgmental environment to allow for authenticity and vulnerability to take place.

AFFILIATIONS AND EDUCATION:

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia-Masters of Social Work

Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida-Bachelors of Social Work

Licensed State of Florida SW #10801

Licensed State of Virginia SW #0904012898

National Association of Social Work (NASW, NASWFL)

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD)

Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County (MHA)

Mental Health Counselors Association of PB (MHCAPB)