Karen Lakritz , LCSW

Karen Lakritz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist. She has worked with people facing a broad range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and substance use linked to loneliness. Her clinical background also includes supporting individuals coping with severe bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Having a mild stutter and some dyslexia herself, she brings an informed perspective to the challenges non-neurotypical clients may encounter.

For much of the past nine years Karen has spent large parts of the year living in Canada, giving her practical familiarity with the health and housing systems that clients often need to navigate there. Her therapeutic manner is described as warm and supportive, grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion while also emphasizing accountability. She stresses that real change requires effort and commitment from both therapist and client.

Her work blends several evidence-informed strategies, combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with client-centered, solution-focused, and rational-emotive approaches to tailor treatment to each person. She seeks to collaborate with clients to identify the interventions that best meet their needs and goals, helping them build skills and make meaningful progress over time.

Approach-Focused Care and Convenient Online Support

Karen Lakritz draws on cognitive-behavioral therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical coping skills - this approach is often useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. She also uses client-centered therapy, emphasizing a respectful, empathetic relationship that supports clients in exploring their values and goals and building self-directed solutions. Attachment-based therapy is part of her toolbox as well, offering ways to explore relationship patterns and the impact of early bonds on current intimacy and communication challenges.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Karen works with clients to assess needs, preferences, and goals and adjusts methods over time so that therapy fits the person rather than forcing a single model onto every situation.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexibility for scheduling and make it easier to maintain continuity of care across distances. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver consistent therapeutic support while accommodating busy lives and differing communication preferences.