Karen Rich

I am Karen Rich, a licensed clinical social worker with special expertise in trauma, codependency, and relational struggles. I use primarily interpersonal and psychodynamic approaches, with some experiential methods as well.

My approach

I like to tailor my approach to the individuals I work with. I generally start with psychodynamic, experiential, humanistic, and interpersonal approaches; however as treatment evolves I may incorporate CBT, eye movement and reprocessing approaches, or DBT.

My focus

I work a lot with people who are struggling with relationship issues, including ones between parent and child. Typical issues are co-dependency, narcissistic partners, infidelity, jealousy, loss, and the influence of childhood trauma on current relationships.

My communication style

I am courteous but accessible, and I often use humor. I try to make clients feel comfortable and do not adopt the stance of a distant unknown observer. That said, I respect the importance of professional boundaries.

My journey to mental healthcare

I love to see people evolve. What gives me the greatest satisfaction is watching clients gradually peel away their negative beliefs and feelings, and emerge as the person they were intended to be. I find that clients have many layers, and it is a satisfying challenge to unearth the true nature of a perceived problem. I have felt this way for as long as I can remember, but advanced training has helped me hone and refine my skill set so I can be more useful.

My goals for you

I have noticed that goals tend to evolve over time. I ask clients what they see as the problem, and we focus on that issue after a period of history taking.

My first session with you

During the first session, I want to hear about your current struggles and what has helped you in the past. Have you had therapists before, and how did those relationships go? What aspects of yourself or your environment are you looking to change? I also want to get a sense of how you feel about yourself.