Karen Ward, Counselor in McKinney, 75069

Karen B. Ward, LPC, CCH

Profession(s):
Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Coaching
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
Licensed Professional Counselor - 62778

My Approach to Helping

I strongly believe you should feel comfortable with the therapist you choose, and hopeful about the therapy. When you feel this way, therapy is more likely to be very helpful to you.
Each of us has a family. This could be the family that raised us (parents, grandparents, foster parents, adopted parents, aunts and uncles, or other friends or extended family) or it could be people we respect and give us assistance and guidance when needed most. Any or all of these people have contributed to our experiences, good or bad in life, and how we react to people or situations today. It is these family memories and experiences along with your personality and temperament that have brought you to the place you are in life today.
The most central ideas in my work are:
1. People are unique and deserve to be treated equally and with respect.
2. Families and society tends to judge people's worth and force them into conformity which may lead to anxiety, loss of self-esteem, depression, anger, rebellion, and other dysfunctional behaviors and psychological disorders.
3. Every person needs their own space and a purpose in life in order to have a sense of worth, hope, acceptance, empowerment, and the ability to make good choices and be responsible.
4. Therapy can help people change in a positive way so that they can live to their full potential.
5. Parents do the best they know how and often repeat the dysfunctional patterns of their families.
6. Change can be difficult and may create stress in the family system and in the client. This can lead to the client reverting back to the familiar way of coping with the stress and the stopping of all progress.
7. As the client's self-worth and outlook on life improves, change will occur and is permanent.

The goals of my treatment are tailored to the individual's uniqueness, willingness to change, and their personal issues. My hope is that each individual will discover their full potential and develop the healthy coping skills necessary to function in their family system and in society.

More Info About My Practice

I accept all major credit cards as well as checks and cash. Please refer to my website for a current list of the insurance plans I accept. I also offer discounts for prepaid services that are detailed on my website under the Services tab.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

Yes, there is a specific issue. I know I am very adept at helping people suffering from depression and every diagnosis that includes a form of depression such as Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, to name a few, and here\'s why. I have suffered from depression my entire life - as a child, a teenager, an adult, and now a middle-aged grandmother. My depression is a genetic disorder manifesting itself as a chemical imbalance in my brain and it was exasperated by traumatic events in my life. I believe my depression makes me a better therapist. \"What?!? How can depression make you a better therapist?\" you ask. Let me explain. Depression has its advantages. Research psychologist have found that people suffering from depression have more empathy and intuitive abilities than those who do not have depression. We naturally feel others pain and suffering and at times know how the other is feeling before the person knows themselves. This gives me the ability to connect with my client at a deeper emotional level so that healing can be more complete and permanent. In addition, I have found the traumatic events that I survived are situationally similar to my client\'s traumas and this brings the client/therapist relationship to a higher plane than it would with a therapist who does not have a traumatic personal history. Couple all this personal information with my professional training and one can see how and why I am very adept and

My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

This is a philosophical question. I love being a therapist because a therapist is who I am. Let me elaborate. All of us at one time or another have contemplated our existence or purpose in life. Some of us ponder on this philosophical question quite extensively while others only give it a brief look and move on with their lives. And the answers people come up with are just as diverse. Some believe we exist for no special reason or purpose, period. Other individuals believe in a God or Supreme Being that either has a grand plan for our lives or is a passive observer of our lives only to get involved during times of trauma or stress. For myself, I have a believe system that encompasses all theories and philosophies. Since I have no knowledge of what the real answer is (if there is one) I eagerly keep myself open to all ideas and perspectives on this subject. With that said, I have looked at myself from every possible angle, school, or belief that I have had time to study - religion, mystic beliefs, psychological and personality theories, my family tree and history, astrology, numerology, and the \"because I would do it for free\" theory. All of these methods of self-discovery point to the same answer, I was born to be a therapist. Would I help people discover their full potential for free? Absolutely! That\'s how much I love being a therapist. I am passionate abut mental health and psychotherapy because I believe every profession must have a strong foundation in order for it

What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process

Feeling anxious about reliving painful memories or feelings is overwhelming and should not be rushed into or forced on the client. I wait for the client to tell me when he or she is ready to confront the pain. As I shared in the first question, I know what it feels like to have memories from the past that are so painful that even just thinking about thinking about them brings up feelings of fear and pain that are so strong that I begin reliving the event again. I know it is important to take our time on painful feelings and memories. The client is the driver of the car. I\'m the navigator in the passenger seat, reading the map and telling the client to get ready for the next turn or exit ahead. If the client isn\'t ready for the next direction, he or she can always pull over and take a break to calm down. Hypnotherapy is a great way to help anxious clients calm down and process their overwhelming emotions in a non-threatening way. Clients that take part in hypnotherapy leave my office feeling calmer and more relaxed than they have in years. Some have told me the feeling is like walking on clouds and they are able to sleep more soundly that night than they have in a long time. I also use a little of Eastern medicine\'s healing techniques by tapping on the acupuncture points associated with anxiety, pain, and negativity through a process called \"Emotional Freedom Techniques.\" Research shows that this process is very effective at helping clients release the overwhelming feelin