- Client-centered care
- CBT and DBT skills
- Grief and life transitions
About Karen
Karen Crawley-Buckholtz is a licensed counselor who focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, and career concerns. She brings 20 years of experience and works from a respectful, compassionate stance. Karen listens first and works with each person to set clear, achievable goals.
Her approach draws on client-centered ideas to keep the client’s priorities central. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to build emotional regulation. Mindfulness and psychodynamic ideas are woven in when they fit the person’s needs.
Karen has worked with issues linked to trauma, perinatal and postpartum depression, hospice and serious illness, and caregiver stress. She also supports people dealing with LGBTQ concerns, bipolar mood challenges, ADHD, eating and sleeping problems, and life transitions. Her background includes work with first responders, active duty military, and veterans, and she brings sensitivity to cultural diversity.
In sessions she helps people name problems, try small changes, and build on strengths they already have. She invites collaboration so goals feel realistic and useful. The first meeting typically focuses on what matters most now and what a reasonable next step could be.
Karen holds a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Bowie State University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is licensed as an LCPC in Maryland and an LPC in Virginia.
Her approach draws on client-centered ideas to keep the client’s priorities central. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to build emotional regulation. Mindfulness and psychodynamic ideas are woven in when they fit the person’s needs.
Karen has worked with issues linked to trauma, perinatal and postpartum depression, hospice and serious illness, and caregiver stress. She also supports people dealing with LGBTQ concerns, bipolar mood challenges, ADHD, eating and sleeping problems, and life transitions. Her background includes work with first responders, active duty military, and veterans, and she brings sensitivity to cultural diversity.
In sessions she helps people name problems, try small changes, and build on strengths they already have. She invites collaboration so goals feel realistic and useful. The first meeting typically focuses on what matters most now and what a reasonable next step could be.
Karen holds a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Bowie State University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is licensed as an LCPC in Maryland and an LPC in Virginia.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
LGBTFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
Aging and geriatric issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Maryland, Virginia
Languages
English
How her approaches guide online therapy
Karen uses client-centered therapy to start by understanding what matters most to each person; this approach emphasizes listening and building goals that reflect the client's priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety or depression. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening relationships.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Karen will work with the client to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts sessions over time so techniques are practical and relevant to everyday challenges.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Many people find online or remote sessions helpful because they can fit therapy into a work break, avoid travel time, or use a format that requires less bandwidth on busy days. Talk with the therapist when you match to learn what formats she currently offers and how sessions can be scheduled around daily life.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Karen commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, career questions, eating and sleeping problems, and coping with life changes among other concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and adaptable, using client-centered care alongside cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior techniques depending on the person's needs.
What experience does she bring to therapy?
Karen has about 20 years of professional experience and has worked with hospice, serious illness, first responders, active duty military, and veterans.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LCPC and LPC credentials and is licensed in Maryland and Virginia; she is based in Maryland.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what does therapy cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Karen?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.