Karlene Harrison , LMSW

Karlene Harrison is a licensed clinical social worker with a Master of Social Work degree from Michigan State University and an LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker. She brings more than 15 years of clinical experience across a variety of settings and works with adults from diverse backgrounds. Her practice commonly addresses depression, anxiety, relationship conflict, grief, guilt, communication barriers, and other life stressors. She also has extensive experience supporting people through loss, caregiving challenges, aging and dementia-related family issues, and major life transitions.

Karlene emphasizes that finding the right therapeutic connection is a fundamental step in moving forward. She offers a non-judgmental space where adults can explore difficult feelings, develop coping strategies, and gain greater insight into patterns that contribute to distress. Her approach is collaborative and patient, allowing clients to begin where they feel most comfortable and to set the pace for their work together.

Her counseling style is relaxed and pragmatic, drawing on research-based techniques to identify problem areas, set realistic goals, and support gradual change. Karlene helps clients reframe unhelpful thoughts, learn new skills for processing emotions, and practice healthier ways of responding to challenges. She values listening as a key part of the process and aims to guide clients toward practical strategies and clearer perspective.

Karlene encourages prospective clients to try different ways of connecting and to discover which format works best for their needs. She is accepting new clients in Michigan and looks forward to supporting individuals as they work toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Karlene integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) into her online practice. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a respectful, empathetic relationship that lets clients lead the conversation and explore what matters most to them; it is useful for emotional processing, relationship concerns, and life transitions. CBT is a practical, structured approach that helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop concrete skills for managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.

She also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy - DBT - to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills when clients are facing intense emotions or relationship difficulties. Karlene approaches treatment collaboratively and will work with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences rather than prescribing a single path.

Online therapy with Karlene offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to access support around work, caregiving, or mobility constraints. Licensed professionals can adapt these formats to deliver focused therapy, ongoing skills practice, and supportive check-ins, helping clients maintain momentum toward their goals while fitting therapy into everyday life.