About Karelin

“I shouldn’t even need to be reading this.”

You may be reading this and wondering who I am and why I’m going to be any different from your friends and family.

I promise, I’ll answer all of that. People show up here when they’re going through something difficult. They may be having a time of crisis or may be tired of this repeating pattern that doesn’t get you where you want to go.

So, let me tell you a little about therapy with me. Did I mention you’ll be doing this from the comfort of your own home?

Therapy with me

First, we’ll start just talking more about what you are experiencing and going through. I’ll ask you what brought you here and give you the time to tell me. I’ve noticed throughout my years of work that most of us get little chance to talk, really talk openly about what we’re thinking and how we’re feeling. When we sit down together, this hour is just for you.

That brings me to the question, why pay for this and why talk with a stranger? Talking with our friends, families, and certainly, mentors are supportive and healthy. How many times, though, have you heard “well, I’m sure you’ll feel better soon” or “think of all the great things you’ve got going for you?” Those things aren’t helpful, and sometimes they can even feel hurtful.

Our friends and family don’t do it on purpose, but for the most part, their responses are driven by their motivation to avoid their discomfort at seeing you in pain. They also are involved in your life and find it hard to be objective.

As a therapist, of course, I don’t want you to feel suffering. I have a lot of training and experience in sitting with others in their time of discomfort. As Brené Brown tells us when explaining the difference between empathy and sympathy, we can only create a genuine, empathetic connection if we are brave enough to get in touch with our own fragilities.

So, that’s what I’m here to do, be brave alongside you. I will be in those spaces where it feels uncomfortable and help you move toward the values and goals you desire in your life.

How long is this going to take?

That’s a good question. The answer is that it will take as long as we need. I’m not going anywhere, and I challenge you to do the same.

The process of therapy tends to follow a flow. First, you’re apprehensive and unsure; things feel chaotic and overwhelming. You’re not sure where to start. That’s where I step in along with my years of training, continuing education, mentorships, and experience. I’ve worked hard to be ready for this moment, ready for you.

During our first few sessions, I’ll likely talk quite a bit, sharing with you new ideas on how to think about things and new skills. We’ll build a structure together to help you practice all these things in your own life.

You’ll begin to come in with successes (yay!) and not so successful moments (yay!), and we’ll use those as an opportunity to practice and fine-tune. Eventually, you’ll come in and tell me about something challenging which you faced, how you used your new ways of thinking and doing, and maybe even how you might do it a little easier the next time. That’s when we’ll start talking about how we say goodbye. It won’t be years from now, I promise.