- Patient centered
- Mindfulness based
- Behavioral tools
About Karen
Karen Shaughness is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in New York with 38 years of experience. She brings a warm, patient-centered approach and a calm presence to her work. Her style is open and friendly, aimed at helping people feel heard and understood from the start.
Karen helps people cope with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, and relationship struggles. She also supports those facing grief, trauma, sleep problems, parenting strain, career challenges, and changes after a separation. Coping with natural or human-caused disaster is listed among her areas of focus. Her background includes work in hospital settings and with diverse life situations.
She uses Client-Centered Therapy, cognitive behavioral ideas, and mindfulness practices to guide sessions. That means she listens first, then offers tools to shift thoughts and build new coping habits. Motivational Interviewing is part of how she helps when people want to change behaviors such as substance use.
Sessions focus on practical steps people can use between meetings. She encourages small experiments, mindful skills, and clearer communication with others. Karen also blends problem-solving with attention to emotional experience so people can regain steadiness.
Outside of work she spends time near water, kayaks, gardens, and walks with her Golden Retriever. Those interests inform her calm, grounded approach in the therapy room.
How therapeutic approaches shape online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a trusting relationship. The therapist offers empathy and reflection so people can explore what matters most and set their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and then replace them with practical skills and experiments that reduce distress and improve functioning. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve calmness.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose strategies that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That collaborative process may blend listening, CBT tools, and mindful practices into a plan that feels realistic and useful.
Confirm the current online session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Some people find video helpful for face-to-face connection, while others prefer phone conversations for lower bandwidth or a quicker session. The focus is on methods that fit daily routines and support steady progress.
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 she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, trauma, sleep problems, parenting strain, career concerns, and coping with life changes including coping with natural or human-caused disaster.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is warm and patient-centered. She listens first, then offers practical skills such as cognitive strategies and mindfulness exercises.
What is her professional background?
She has 38 years of clinical experience and works in a hospital setting as part of her professional practice.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, practicing in New York.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.