Karen Foley, LICSW

Washington | Online sessions in Washington | English | Book with Karen »

Compassionate guidance for personal change

Details

Name	Karen Foley
Credentials	LICSW
Based in	Washington
Licensed in	Washington
Session format	Online
Languages	English
Years in practice	32

About Karen

Karen Foley is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction struggles, and low self-esteem. She brings a calm, straightforward style and encourages clients to notice their strengths. Karen works in Washington and offers sessions in English.

She believes each person knows their own story best. Her approach centers on listening closely and helping people reframe difficult chapters so they feel less stuck. Sessions focus on practical steps and clear goals rather than jargon-heavy talk.

Background and approach

Over more than three decades of practice Karen has supported people through trauma, abuse, depression, grief, and challenges connected to domestic violence. She draws on a mix of methods to match the moment, using skills work when anxiety or panic shows up, and narrative methods when someone wants to rewrite painful meanings.

Her toolkit includes cognitive behavioral techniques for shifting unhelpful thoughts, mindfulness practices for grounding, and elements from dialectical behavior therapy for emotion regulation. She also uses client-centered ways of working to keep the conversation focused on the person’s priorities. In sessions clients can expect clear explanations and step-by-step strategies to try between meetings.

Karen values small, sustainable changes and helps people build on what already works in their lives. Taking the first step can feel hard, and her practice aims to make that step feel understandable and doable.

What this therapist works with

Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse among the things Karen works with, alongside the areas below.

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Systemic Therapy: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Karen directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.

If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Karen directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Karen often combines Narrative Therapy with client-centered work to help people tell a different story about their struggles. Narrative Therapy focuses on separating problems from the person and exploring how life events are given meaning, which can be useful for trauma, shame, or life transitions. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and empathy so the person leads the pace and goals of work.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT gives concrete strategies for anxiety, panic, and depressive symptoms, such as tracking thoughts and testing small behavior changes. Together these approaches let the therapist tailor sessions to symptoms and to the personal story someone brings in a collaborative way.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and adjust methods based on what proves helpful. That collaboration means approaches can shift over time as needs change.

Online sessions include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video calls let people connect face to face, phone sessions use less bandwidth, live chat works for quicker check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options make it easier to attend sessions around work, childcare, or other commitments.

Common questions about this listing

What concerns does Karen address?

She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and depression. Additional focus areas include body image, communication problems, control issues, and isolation or loneliness.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style combines listening with practical tools. She uses client-centered listening alongside techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT, mindfulness, and Narrative Therapy to fit what each person needs.

What is her professional background?

She has 32 years of experience working in clinical settings. That experience includes supporting people through grief, depression, domestic violence, and trauma-related concerns.

Where is she licensed and located?

She is a LICSW licensed in Washington and provides services from that state. Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the United States work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are provided in English for clients located in Washington.

What session formats are available?

Sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Different formats let people choose what fits their schedule and communication needs.

How does pricing work for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and is handled through a subscription model. The subscription can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to start therapy?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. After that, schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Karen are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Karen where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.

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