- Patient-centered approach
- CBT and mindfulness
- Focus on anxiety
About Karen
Karen Shaughness is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in New York with 38 years of experience. She offers a warm, approachable presence and focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, including panic-related concerns. Her style aims to make starting therapy feel less intimidating and more manageable.
Karen uses a patient-centered way of working that puts the person's goals first. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness to help people notice patterns, try small changes, and build skills for daily life. She also brings motivational interviewing when people are weighing change or facing addiction challenges.
Her background includes hospital work and years supporting people through relationship strain, grief, trauma, mood shifts, and family dynamics. That range has shaped a practical approach that links short-term coping skills to longer-term growth. She pays attention to how life circumstances, work stress, and caregiving demands affect wellbeing.
Karen enjoys calming activities outdoors and often encourages clients to experiment with simple routines like walks, breathing practice, or brief grounding exercises. She believes small, steady steps often matter more than big decisions all at once. Clients can expect straightforward conversation, skill practice, and collaboration on goals.
To begin, prospective clients select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How her approaches fit into online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's own goals and pace. The therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and works with the client to set practical steps that feel doable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, behaviors, and feelings connect and teaches skills to interrupt unhelpful patterns; it can help with anxiety, panic symptoms, and low mood.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Karen collaborates with each person to decide which methods match their needs, goals, and preferences. That means checking in about what helps, adjusting techniques, and pacing change in a way that feels manageable.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make fitting sessions into a busy week easier and supports consistent check-ins without long commutes. It can also allow for shorter or focused sessions when needed, and for using mindfulness practice or thought-record exercises between meetings. Ask about the current session options when you schedule so you know how therapy will fit into your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
38+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Karen commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, trauma, panic-related worries, sleep problems, and workplace strain.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her style is patient-centered and conversational. She combines cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness with practical skill building.
How much clinical experience does she bring?
She has 38 years of practice, including work in a hospital setting and long experience supporting people through mood and life-change issues.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, practicing in New York.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps do I take to start therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.