Karen Lakritz

Karen Lakritz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist. She has supported people facing depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and substance use linked to loneliness. Karen has also worked with clients coping with severe bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. She mentions living with a mild stutter and some dyslexia, and says this gives her first-hand understanding of challenges non-neurotypical people may face.

Karen describes her style as warm and supportive. She combines respect and compassion with clear accountability. Sessions focus on practical steps and honest conversation rather than jargon. She aims to help clients set realistic goals and stick with the work needed to reach them.

Her approach draws on several methods including cognitive behavioral tools, client-centered listening, and techniques from acceptance and commitment work. She adapts these methods to the person in front of her and the problem they brought in for help. That makes each plan personal and focused on real-life coping.

Over her career she has helped people navigate relationship struggles, parenting stress, career shifts, and complex medical or caregiving situations. She also has experience with issues such as eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. Her background includes time spent living in Canada, so she is familiar with health and housing systems there.

Karen asks for commitment to change and offers steady support while clients practise new skills. The work is collaborative and goal-oriented. She encourages people to choose small, manageable steps toward clearer functioning and less distress.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting ruled by them, and then act in ways that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and grief when someone wants practical steps to live more purposefully. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying small behavior changes to shift mood and functioning. It is often used for anxiety, sleep problems, mood challenges, and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to your goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying an approach for a few sessions and adjusting if it isn’t helpful, rather than assuming one method fits every problem.

The biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people attend from another city or country, which can help when someone is managing health or housing arrangements across regions. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT and CBT exercises to the online setting, using practical homework, brief skills practice, and focused conversation to support steady progress.