Karen Kelly

Practical, trauma-informed therapy with an LCSW

LCSW Alaska

Experience: 13 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English, French

About Karen

Karen Kelly is an LCSW practicing in Alaska with 13 years of clinical experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. She concentrates on helping clients navigate intense life transitions, grief, intimacy-related concerns, and challenges such as compassion fatigue or career-related stress.

Background and approach

Her background includes work with first responders and veterans, and she draws on that experience when addressing issues like post-traumatic stress, guilt, and shame. Her style blends evidence-based tools and empathic listening, tailoring each plan to a person’s circumstances and goals.

Karen integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Client-Centered Therapy, and EMDR, selecting methods that match client needs. She guides clients in building practical coping skills, improving communication, and addressing problems such as addiction, codependency, and self-esteem concerns.

Sessions are available in English and French and offered through a range of online formats. Prospective clients are invited to begin with a short intake and scheduling process to determine whether her approach and availability are a good fit for their needs.

Evidence-based approaches adapted for online care

The therapist commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps clients identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is also used to help people clarify values, increase psychological flexibility, and build committed action even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings. EMDR is another approach in her toolkit that is used to process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional intensity.

Finding the right combination of methods is collaborative; the therapist works with each person to determine which approaches best match their needs, goals, and personal preferences. This collaborative process ensures the plan evolves as progress is made and new priorities emerge.

Online therapy with this clinician offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into busy or remote lives. These formats support regular contact, practical skill practice between sessions, and access to a licensed professional without the constraints of travel.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Karen commonly address?

She works with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related difficulties, grief, anger, self-esteem, career stress, and compassion fatigue.

What is her therapeutic style?

Her approach is compassionate and individualized, combining practical skill-building with empathic listening and evidence-based methods to support clients in meeting their goals.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 13 years of experience as a practicing clinician working with a range of concerns including mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, and substance use.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is an LCSW licensed in Alaska with license number AK LCSW 109450 and practices from that location.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are available in English and French, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats does she offer?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are arranged through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Depression

Also works with

Relationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

CodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFirst responder issuesGuilt and shame Isolation / lonelinessVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Post-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

13+ years

Licensed

Alaska

Languages

English, French