Karen Ethier-Waring
Licensed Marriage & Family TherapistI am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has over 20 years of experience providing compassionate, strengths-based therapy to individuals, families, and couples. I believe that we all do our best to thrive or at least survive our challenging lives. Our minds and bodies are excellent at keeping us safe through trauma, relational stress, loss, and emotional and physical illnesses but often we become stuck in those self-protection modes. I work with adults, youth and children dealing with the fallout of emotional and physical trauma, anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, identity issues, and grief among other issues.
While each person and healing path is different, most have three phases in common
- Connecting – becoming compassionately aware of self-protective patterns and ways we’ve pushed parts of ourselves or others away
- Healing – making meaning of our lives and our experiences and learning how to find the calm center that contains our most authentic self
- Creating –new or renewed ways of being with ourselves and others, playfully and courageously creating a life and relationships that are full of joy and true connection
I use a variety of modalities and interventions to fit the needs and sensibilities of my clients. In an environment of warm acceptance, I incorporate psychoeducation, guided imagery, and creative arts interventions (writing, drawing, song) to help clients find their own wisdom and resources. I support clients in becoming more flexible with their life stories, playfully creating new endings and new beginnings for themselves and their families. Play and playfulness are at the core of the work with children, families, and adults. My work is informed by Interpersonal Neurobiology, Internal Family Systems and Radical Acceptance. My professional values are informed by my belief in the inherent worth and value of all people and I work toward social justice in all areas of my life. I affirm and welcome people of all genders, cultures, races, and belief systems. I look forward to meeting and working with you.