Karen Stockbridge, Ed.S, LPES

Hi! I’m Karen, a Licensed School Psychologist with over 10 years of experience supporting children, teens, and their families. I specialize in school avoidance (school refusal), behavior concerns, anxiety, test anxiety, and challenges that make school feel overwhelming or stressful.

I work with children, pre-teens, teens, and parents who are navigating school-related stress, behavioral challenges, and anxiety. Many of the families I support are coping with school avoidance, test anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, or academic pressure—and are looking for a counselor who truly understands the school system. With over 10 years of experience as a school psychologist, I help students understand why school feels hard, reduce anxiety and overwhelm, build coping tools, strengthen confidence, and improve daily functioning both emotionally and academically. I also provide comprehensive evaluations for learning disorders, Autism, and ADHD to give families clarity and an individualized roadmap for next steps.

What Sessions Are Like:
Sessions are warm, structured, and tailored to your child’s age and needs. Younger children benefit from hands-on tools, visual supports, and step-by-step strategies. Pre-teens and teens often prefer a more collaborative, conversational approach focused on coping skills, problem-solving, and building confidence. No matter the age, my goal is to create a space where your child feels safe, understood, and capable of change.

How I Work With Parents:
Parents receive practical guidance and supportive coaching focused on home routines, communication strategies, and emotional regulation—always without violating the child’s privacy in counseling. I help parents understand the patterns behind behaviors so they feel empowered rather than overwhelmed.

How I Collaborate With Schools:
Because of my background in school psychology, I can help families navigate school communication, understand 504/IEP processes, address attendance barriers, and work with teachers and school teams to ensure your child’s needs are recognized and supported. When appropriate and with consent, I collaborate directly with schools to create a consistent plan across home, school, and therapy.

My therapeutic approach blends Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused work, behavioral strategies, parent coaching, and collaborative problem-solving. Families often choose to work with me because I offer a warm, encouraging, and practical style, paired with deep experience in both mental health and the school system. Together, we work as a team to make school, and daily life feel more manageable again.