Karin Johnson

Karin Johnson is a licensed masters social worker (LMSW) with 21 years of experience. She welcomes people who feel stuck and want practical help to move forward. Reaching out can feel hard, and she aims to make that first step easier with a warm, nonjudgmental approach.

She trained in social work at Arizona State University and completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Over two decades she has worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups across a wide range of concerns. Her experience includes helping with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, bipolar challenges, and relationship issues.

Karin uses a mix of approaches rather than a single method. Sessions often include cognitive behavioral ideas to shift unhelpful thoughts, acceptance and commitment strategies to clarify values, and trauma-focused perspectives when past events are part of the problem. She also draws on attachment-based and client-centered ways of working to build trust and understanding.

Her style is relaxed, interactive, and compassionate. She focuses on strengths and practical steps. That can mean setting short-term goals, practicing communication skills, reviewing boundaries, and giving worksheets or resources to use between sessions.

Clients who prefer straightforward, skills-focused support may find her approach helpful. She emphasizes collaboration and helps people practice new ways of thinking and acting so they can handle life changes and everyday challenges more effectively.

How Karin Uses Therapy Approaches Online

Karin works from a few practical approaches that translate well to online sessions. Trauma-focused therapy centers on understanding how past hurts affect current feelings and reactions, and it uses paced steps to reduce overwhelm and reconnect with present goals. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches how to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that align with personal values. Attachment-based therapy looks at patterns in relationships and helps people build clearer communication and safer connections.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Karin will collaborate with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That process can include trying different tools and checking in on what helps most as sessions progress.

If you plan to try online sessions, confirm the specific session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow more flexible scheduling across time zones. It also lets Karin provide worksheets, homework, and practical exercises that you can use between sessions to support progress.