Karen Petren, LCSW

I am a psychotherapist licensed for 25 years and I’m committed to address challenges related to ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and parenting challenges. I work with adults, teens, and families.

My aim is to help you feel better starting with the first session! My approach to therapy is warm and welcoming...and I gently push you to face your challenges and grow. I want to know what your life is all about and understand what you would like to change. We will work together to bring out the best in you and help you experience more joy and connectedness to your life. We will talk about how to be true to yourself and listen to that inner voice...or maybe find it if you haven’t heard it in a while. It’s there! Life gets better. It really does.

I became a therapist because I am curious about each person’s story and what makes each person unique. I like to figure out what obstacles are in a person’s way and help them discover how to overcome them. It is challenging and rewarding work.

My clients describe me as confident and kind and as someone who believes in the power within each person to grow in change. I hold clients accountable and encourage them to take risks to get the things they want out of life. I find humor to be a great way to connect and relieve stress even in the most challenging situations.

If you struggle with OCD, I have a deep understanding of what’s it’s like to have your daily life hijacked by intrusive, unwanted thoughts and the repetitive behaviors that go with them. I’m trained in ERP (exposure response prevention), the gold standard for OCD treatment. It starts working right away and I have seen tremendous lift-changing results with this treatment.

For ADHD clients, I have a great deal of empathy for always being told to “try harder” and not being understood. It is exhausting. There are so many articles and apps floating around these days; however, there is no substitute for a powerful connection with a therapist who knows you. I address both the emotional dysregulation and give you personalized tools that actually work.