Karin Gardner, LICSW, LCSW - Therapist in New York

Family of origin issues
Stress and anxiety
Acceptance and ACT

About Karin

Karin Gardner is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New York with seven years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, and family concerns, including family of origin issues and parenting stress.

Karin uses a person-centered, humanistic stance as a foundation. She draws on several evidence-based approaches to address specific problems. In sessions she helps clients identify patterns that keep causing the same problems and then practices concrete skills to change responses to those patterns.

People meet Karin to work through life transitions, chronic illness, caregiving strain, or difficulty sleeping and concentrating. She also assists with anger, self-esteem, career questions, and concerns such as ADHD and bipolar mood challenges. Conversations are aimed at clarifying values, improving communication, and easing day-to-day functioning.

Her work includes attention to attachment and early family relationships when those patterns still affect current life and relationships. Karin combines acceptance- and mindfulness-informed techniques with cognitive-behavioral skill building and emotion regulation practices when helpful.

Sessions are collaborative and practical. Karin helps people notice automatic reactions, try new ways of relating, and track what changes help. She asks about goals and adjusts the focus as progress unfolds.

Approaches used and what online sessions involve

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and then taking action guided by personal values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and patterns that come from family expectations. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns shape current ways of relating. It can help when family of origin issues or attachment concerns affect intimate and caregiving relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss which methods fit the individual's goals and preferences and will adjust strategies as needs change. That planning happens collaboratively during the first sessions and over time.

This profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when a full in-person visit is hard to arrange. Licensed professionals and therapists adapt exercises, values work, and behavioral practice to the online setting so clients can apply skills between sessions.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

Family conflictsGriefSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issues Body imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / loneliness Life purpose Midlife crisis Mood disorders Panic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-love Social anxiety and phobia Women's issues Workplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

7+ years

Listed in

New York, Vermont

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, plus parenting and caregiving stress.

What is her therapeutic style?

She uses a person-centered, humanistic approach and draws on evidence-based methods to match practical skills to problems.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has seven years of professional experience working with adults on a range of emotional and life concerns.

What are her credentials and location?

She holds VT LICSW and NY LCSW credentials and practices in New York.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can I work with her from another country?

She is not accepting international clients at this time.

How are sessions arranged and what do they cost?

Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.