About Me
Hello! I’m Karen
Licensed Professional Counselor
I am Karen Griswell, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas. I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Webster University in Albuquerque, NM and have been in practice for over 25 years. My belief is that the Emotional, Physical, Spiritual and Mental Body are all one and I encourage a person consider that each area may need to be addressed in the process of counseling.
My therapeutic perspective is that we can make changes and find increased satisfaction with our lives if we intentionally set aside time for that purpose. In my Johnson County area counseling practice I strive to establish and maintain a relationship with my clients that encourage equality, respect and trust. In general once we agree upon counseling goals, I will offer strategies and a perspective for you to utilize in the achievement of your goals, on your timeline, at your own pace.
When people think about counseling or therapy I find that it can sound really confusing and a little intimidating. Basically I ask a person to look at themselves asking four questions:
1. What is going on? Example: I am not happy with my life, I feel empty.
2. How am I responding? Example: I am calling in to work sick. I don’t want to be around people. I want to stay in bed.
3. What do I want different? Example: I want to enjoy work again. I want to go out with my family and friends.
4. What do I need to do different? This is the where we explore all the options available to you, some that you may have never even thought of. Together we put together a plan, step-by-step, to help you shape your life the way you want it to be.
I have made this process sound really easy and it can be just that simple for some people, they go through these steps quickly and accomplish their goals in a few sessions. Other times people require a longer period of time due to childhood/adult experiences that have been extremely abusive or traumatic life changing events. It does not matter how long it takes, I will stand by you throughout the process and see you feeling more confident and satisfied with your quality of life. There are events that happen in life and a person may need to leave counseling/therapy and the beauty of counseling/therapy is that you can pick up where you left off when you are able to resume taking care of yourself.
On a personal note, I am married. My husband, Paul and I have a blended family of five Children, eleven Grandchildren and a Dog, named Sigmond, who you can read about below. Hobbies I enjoy are gardening, kayaking, music, reading, finding new and cool places in Texas to go see and experimenting with new recipes. I am a practicing Christian but I respect other people’s perspectives on God and include my Christian perspective in my counseling only if my client is comfortable with that being part of their therapy.
ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidentiality – Privacy? How does that work in counseling?
The law requires that none of your personal information from a counseling session is disclosed without your written permission. I don’t even acknowledge that you are my client unless I have your written permission. My goal is for you to work on your personal therapy in a safe and unrestricted environment. Example: If there is domestic violence in your relationship – your spouse/partner will not have access to any of your information. They will not learn from my office that you are in therapy, the time of your appointment, the number of times you have come or what you are saying in your therapy sessions.
Exceptions to Confidentiality: I do disclose information to the Insurance Company/EAP Plan if that is the method in which you are using to pay for your session.
- If I learn of Child or Elder Abuse, I am mandated by law to report any suspicion of abuse.
- When in session, should you tell me that you intend to do harm to yourself or others, I will take whatever steps necessary to keep you and others safe.
My Approach & Values
My belief is that the Emotional, Physical, Spiritual and Mental Body are all one and I encourage a person consider that each area may need to be addressed in the process of counseling.
My therapeutic perspective is that we can make changes and find increased satisfaction with our lives if we intentionally set aside time for that purpose. In my Johnson County area counseling practice I strive to establish and maintain a relationship with my clients that encourage equality, respect and trust. In general once we agree upon counseling goals, I will offer strategies and a perspective for you to utilize in the achievement of your goals, on your timeline, at your own pace.
My Experience
- Over 25+ years experience in counseling
My Education
- MA, Counseling @ Webster University
- BA, Double major in Public Communication and Family Studies @ Eastern New Mexico University
- Certified in Art Therapy
Hello! I’m Sigmond
Therapy Dog
Hi, I’m Sigmond. I am a Therapy Dog. Karen has been a good influence on me. I was adopted from the Fort Worth Animal Shelter. There were some nice people there, but I am very glad that Karen & Paul adopted me. I enjoy getting to go to the office with Karen every day. I may not have all the skills that Karen has, but I am always glad to see you. And if you’re a patient, I promise to uphold the same confidentiality oath that Karen does. Anything you tell me will stay just between us!