Karen Guillory, LICSW
Compassionate, narrative-informed therapy for life challenges
Details
| Name | Karen Guillory |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LICSW |
| Based in | District of Columbia |
| Licensed in | District of Columbia |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 20 |
About Karen
Karen Guillory, LICSW, offers a calm, strengths-based approach to therapy. She centers each session on the person's story and helps them find practical ways to move forward. Her style aims to be nonjudgmental and grounded in real-life coping skills.
With two decades of experience in the District of Columbia, she supports people dealing with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, and major life changes. She also addresses relationship concerns, parenting strain, grief, addiction struggles, and mood conditions such as depression and bipolar issues.
Background and approach
Her background includes work with first responder issues, caregiver stress, and multicultural concerns. Karen uses narrative ideas to help people make sense of painful events and reframe their life stories. She pairs that with client-centered listening so each person leads the pace and focus.
Cognitive behavioral techniques and solution-focused tools are used when practical to build skills and solve immediate problems. Sessions aim to identify strengths, clarify goals, and practice small steps that fit daily life. She pays attention to how family of origin, communication patterns, and control issues shape current choices.
Dissociation, panic, and grief are met with calm, steady supports and concrete coping strategies. People come for help with self-esteem, intimacy-related concerns, anger, career transitions, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. The work blends empathy with concrete strategies so progress can be felt between sessions.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse among the things Karen works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dissociation
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
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.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: 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
Narrative and Practical Therapies Delivered Online
Karen blends Narrative Therapy with client-centered listening and cognitive behavioral ideas to help people reorganize difficult memories and change unhelpful patterns. Narrative Therapy helps people separate themselves from problems and rewrite troubling parts of their story. Client-centered work means the person sets the pace while the therapist offers reflective listening and support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) brings concrete exercises to notice thoughts and try different behaviors that can reduce anxiety or improve mood.Finding the right approach is a shared process. She will discuss what feels most useful and adapt techniques to match a person's goals and daily life. That collaborative fit is checked regularly so sessions stay relevant and focused on measurable steps forward.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit busy schedules and different needs. Video lets people read facial cues and use visual tools, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or messaging works well for brief check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options aim to make therapy more accessible and flexible while keeping the work practical and goal-oriented.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, relationship concerns, parenting strain, grief, addiction issues, mood concerns like depression and bipolar, and many related struggles.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is trauma-informed and client-centered. She uses narrative approaches, practical skill-building, and solution-focused work to help people change unhelpful patterns.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of professional work experience providing behavioral health support in the District of Columbia.
What credential and location information is on file?
She holds a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker credential, listed as LICSW, and practices in the District of Columbia.
Are sessions available in other languages or for international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are offered?
Sessions can be held by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what works best for the person.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's 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.
Or see other therapists in District of Columbia »
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Other listings in District of Columbia
- Brittany Bordonaro, LICSW - District of Columbia
- Michelle Durham, LPC - District of Columbia
- Elizabeth Snow, LICSW, LCSW - District of Columbia
- Donna Coakley, MD, LCPC, LPC - District of Columbia
- All therapists for stress, anxiety »