About Karen
Karen Winberry is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 26 years in mental health care. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, anger, parenting struggles, relationship strain, bipolar challenges, and major life changes. Her approach is down-to-earth and practical, and she aims to make each session useful from the first visit.
Karen adapts therapy to each person's needs. She blends client-centered care with cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness tools.
How Karen works
She also uses elements of dialectical behavior therapy and EMDR when those methods fit the situation. Sessions focus on building concrete coping skills, improving emotional regulation, and working through distressing memories or patterns. Her style is collaborative and straightforward.
She listens without judgment and gives honest, constructive feedback. People can expect a mix of talking, skill practice, and homework that applies to daily life. Over more than two decades she has supported people with severe and persistent mood and thought disorders as well as those facing situational crises.
That experience informs how she plans treatment and adjusts strategies over time. Therapy is offered in formats that suit different schedules and needs. Karen uses approachable language and breaks complex ideas into simple steps so people can practice skills between sessions and track progress.
Karen lists 7 ways of working on the entry:
What Karen works with
The areas below are the ones Karen selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
Also listed
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Trauma and abuse
Training and background
| Register | LMFT |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 26 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and supporting the person’s own goals. In an online session this means the therapist follows the client's lead, asks clarifying questions, and helps shape goals that feel realistic and meaningful.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Online CBT sessions include guided exercises, thought records, and homework to practice between meetings, which helps with anxiety, depression, and stress.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Online DBT-style work can teach breathing and grounding techniques, emotion skills, and step-by-step strategies to manage intense feelings.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before, then recommend techniques that match the person’s needs. That collaboration continues as progress is reviewed and methods are adjusted.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people use visual cues and practice skills in real time. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief updates, tracking progress, or getting short-term support between sessions. These options make scheduling more flexible and reduce travel time.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Explore online therapy optionsWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What concerns does Karen address?
What is her therapeutic style?
How long has she worked in mental health?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Which languages are supported?
What session formats are offered?
How are fees handled?
How do I begin the process?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions