Karen Porterfield, LCSW

New York | Online sessions in New York | English | Book with Karen »

Practical therapy focused on daily coping and meaning

Details

Name	Karen Porterfield
Credentials	LCSW
Based in	New York
Licensed in	New York
Session format	Online
Languages	English
Years in practice	3

About Karen

Karen Porterfield is a licensed clinical social worker in New York. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma and relationship concerns. Her approach aims to make daily life feel more manageable and meaningful.

Karen keeps sessions focused and practical. She listens to a person's story and helps name patterns that get in the way. Therapy often includes learning skills to cope with strong emotions and to change unhelpful thoughts.

Background and approach

She draws on Narrative Therapy to look at how problems are described and how those stories shape choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to spot thinking habits and try small experiments that can change mood and behavior. Mindfulness practices and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are also part of her work for managing stress and emotional intensity.

Karen emphasizes self-awareness and self-compassion while working toward clearer goals. Sessions move at a pace set by the client, with a mix of talk, skill-building, and simple exercises to practice between meetings. The aim is to help people live more authentically and cope better with everyday challenges.

With three years of clinical experience, Karen brings a calm, straightforward style. She encourages people to bring whatever feels important to the session and supports them as they explore changes they want to make. She offers services in English and meets people online through a variety of formats to fit different schedules and needs.

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
Anger management
Depression

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.
Solution-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

Approaches that guide online work

Karen commonly uses Narrative Therapy to help people examine the stories they tell about themselves and their problems, then rewrite those stories in ways that allow different choices and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new ways of thinking and acting to change mood and behavior. Mindfulness practices are used to build awareness of present-moment experience and reduce reactivity to stress.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or has not helped before, and then suggest approaches to try together. Sessions can shift as needs change, mixing narrative work, CBT tasks, and mindfulness exercises when useful.

Online therapy offers a number of practical benefits. Video calls let people meet face-to-face from different locations and keep visual connection. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging provide flexible ways to write out thoughts, get brief coaching between sessions, and fit support into a busy schedule. Licensed professionals can use these formats to deliver skill-building, reflection, and support in ways that suit each person's routine.

Common questions about this listing

What concerns does Karen help with?

She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma and relationship challenges.

How would you describe Karen's therapy style?

She uses a calm, practical style that mixes listening with skill teaching and small experiments between sessions.

What is her professional background?

She is a licensed clinical social worker with three years of clinical experience supporting people with emotional and relationship issues.

Where is Karen licensed and based?

She holds a New York LCSW and practices from New York.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Karen offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for ongoing work.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process to begin working with Karen?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on 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.

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