- Client-centered approach
- CBT and mindfulness
- Sleep and stress focus
About Karen
Karen Shaughness is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 38 years of experience. She uses a patient-focused, client-centered style to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. Karen aims to create a warm, open space where people can begin to talk through difficult issues and find practical next steps.
She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that keep problems going. Mindfulness practices are used to build calm and increase awareness of the present moment. Motivational interviewing is applied when people want to make changes but feel stuck or ambivalent.
Karen has long experience supporting people with addictions, family dynamics, grief, trauma, and work-related strain. She also addresses concerns such as codependency, communication problems, panic, and mood disorders. Her background includes hospital work, which contributes to a familiarity with diverse life situations.
Sessions are approached with practicality in mind. Expect conversations that focus on current challenges, concrete coping strategies, and simple exercises to try between meetings. Karen also values small lifestyle adjustments that can improve sleep and daily functioning.
Outside of work she spends time outdoors and near water, enjoys kayaking, concerts, films, gardening, and long walks with her Golden Retriever. Those activities inform a grounded, down-to-earth style that she brings into sessions.
How Karen's approaches work online and in session
Client-centered therapy places the person and their goals at the center of sessions. The therapist listens closely, reflects what matters most, and works alongside the person to set practical goals and steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and habits and testing new ways of thinking and acting to reduce symptoms like anxiety and poor sleep.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Karen will discuss goals, preferences, and daily routines to decide which techniques to try first. That shared decision-making helps tailor strategies to sleep, stress, or addiction-related concerns and to adjust plans as progress occurs.
Confirm session formats before booking since specific online or in-person options are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten travel time, and turn brief check-ins into useful touchpoints. It can also allow work on mindfulness exercises and CBT worksheets between sessions, so people practice strategies in their everyday lives. Licensed professionals, including this therapist, work with each person to choose an approach and appointment pattern that best fits their needs and schedule.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
38+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Karen help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, trauma, and related concerns such as panic, OCD symptoms, and workplace problems.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is warm and client-centered, focusing on practical steps. Sessions emphasize listening, problem-solving, and small changes clients can try between meetings.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings 38 years of clinical experience, including work in a hospital setting and with a wide range of life issues.
What credential does she hold and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in New York and practices in the New York area.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently working with international clients.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a time based on the therapist's availability.