Karen Kelly, LCSW
Guided, practical therapy for hard moments
Details
| Name | Karen Kelly |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | Alaska |
| Licensed in | Alaska |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, French |
| Years in practice | 13 |
About Karen
Karen Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Alaska with 13 years of experience. She helps people facing anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and the strain of work or isolation. Her style is steady and practical, focused on small, manageable steps that reduce overwhelm.
She aims to make sessions feel like a clear conversation. People talk through what happened, notice patterns, and try new ways of handling stress.
Background and approach
Sessions include breathing and grounding tools, thought work, and storytelling to reframe painful memories. Karen draws on Narrative approaches alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to shape the work. Narrative Therapy helps people separate themselves from a problem story so they can rewrite it.
ACT encourages values-driven action even when feelings are hard, and CBT brings attention to thoughts that fuel distress. Her background includes years of service as a law enforcement officer and 911 dispatcher, which informs her understanding of first responder stress and veteran-related concerns. That lived experience helps her recognize practical impacts of trauma and high-pressure jobs without assuming what someone needs.
Sessions are offered in English and French. Karen offers therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging. Cost varies with location and is provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse among the things Karen works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- First responder issues
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Karen among the ways she works.
- 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.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): 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.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: 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.
- 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 Narrative and ACT fit into online care
Karen uses Narrative Therapy to help people untangle the stories they tell about themselves. This helps when past events or labels keep showing up in daily choices and relationships. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to identify values and take small actions even when emotions feel intense; it is helpful for anxiety, depression, and sticking to recovery goals. Client-Centered Therapy guides the tone of sessions so people feel heard and respected as they make changes.Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will listen to the person’s goals, try a few methods, and adjust based on what actually helps. This collaborative process makes it easier to find tools that fit the client’s life and values.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, and text messaging to match different needs. Video is useful for deeper conversation and skill practice. Phone sessions take less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day. Live chat and text work well for shorter check-ins, tracking progress, or when messaging fits into a schedule. These options make therapy more flexible for people balancing work, caregiving, or irregular shifts.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Karen address?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addictions, plus related issues such as grief, anger, self-esteem, and relationship or intimacy struggles.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is conversational and practical. Sessions focus on storytelling, skill practice, and small changes that can ease daily life.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
She has 13 years of clinical experience and prior work as a law enforcement officer and 911 dispatcher, which gives perspective on first responder and veteran-related stress.
Where is she licensed and based?
Karen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Alaska and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and French.
What session formats are available?
She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Fees vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to her 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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