"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~ Anais Nin
Hello. My name is Karen Gano, and I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in New Mexico, Colorado, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Australia. I received my Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, and I have over 30 years of clinical counseling experience.
My specialty is what I call Empowerment Counseling. I have a Motivational Interviewing style, and I use Compassion-Focused, Client-Centered, Solution Focused Brief (SFBT), Mindfulness, and Strength Based therapies to assist clients in improving their outlook and life. I have a holistic and goal oriented practice, working primarily with women who are going through some type of life transition whether it be separation, divorce, career changes, relocation, empty nest, illness, etc. I also provide counseling to healthcare workers as I have been a practicing medical social worker throughout my career, and I have worked in trauma, emergency medicine, critical care, oncology, palliative care, and domestic abuse.
We can all benefit from talking to someone now and again. It is my primary goal to empower clients so that they can build and expand their "team," discover their voice, increase self-awareness and esteem, and make wanted changes in their life. My professional and personal mantra is "Self-Care + Time = Healing." I can help you with healthy coping strategies and tools to guide you from surviving to thriving.
I very much look forward to working with you!
Professional experience
33 yrs in practice
RelationshipsTrauma, AbuseGriefSelf esteem, MotivationCoping with life changes
Additional areas of focus:Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Aging and geriatric issues, Blended family issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Family of origin issues, Fertility issues, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Women's issues
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Karen Gano. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Karen has truly been amazing. We've been meeting for a few months now and she has become such an integral part of my healing journey. So grateful to be paired with her!
Written on Jan 19, 2026 after therapy with Karen for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and self esteem
Easy to talk to about difficult things
Written on Jul 21, 2025 after therapy with Karen for 1 year and 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and grief
Karen is always there for me, even through my own distractions!
Thank you!
Written on Apr 20, 2025 after therapy with Karen for 2 years and 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, intimacy-related issues, anger management, and coaching
She is easy to talk to and does not hold back
Written on Apr 20, 2025 after therapy with Karen for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, and coping with life changes
Great listener, excited to continue working with Karen
Written on Apr 16, 2025 after therapy with Karen for 3 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues
Karen is a positive and enthusiastic therapist with skills, genuine concern and compassion. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking to support through life’s difficulties.
Written on Jan 05, 2025 after therapy with Karen for 10 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, family conflicts, and trauma and abuse
I have been working with Karen Gano for 2 years now and I can't believe how much our work together has changed my life. She really understands what my goals are and helps me make action plans on how to acheive them. She asks questions that lead me to understand myself better and remove the obstacles in my way. Highly, highly recommend.
Written on Jan 01, 2025 after therapy with Karen for 2 years and 4 months on issues concerning family conflicts, eating disorders, and compassion fatigue
My therapist is great.
Written on Oct 26, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and bipolar disorder
Great!
Written on Oct 20, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 7 months on issues concerning family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and coaching
Karen is an extremely kind, knowledgeable, and compassionate professional. She has helped me greatly in dealing with past trauma as well as present issues. She guides me in learning the personal development skills necessary to cope with challenges.
Written on Oct 08, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 2 years on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, self esteem, and adhd
Karen Gano listens to me and gives me insights into my behavior, which helps me see how I might effect change in my life. I appreciate her encouragement to journal and she responds to my writings. I would recommend her to anyone!
Written on Sep 21, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 6 months on issues concerning depression, trauma and abuse, and eating disorders
She’s wonderful!
Written on Jul 13, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and career difficulties
Karen is compassionate, thoughtful, and talented therapist who has made the process as comfortable and as smooth as possible. She's helped me through some difficult transitions and has earned my full trust and faith.
Written on May 17, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 4 months on issues concerning relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes
Karen is the best she has helped and still helping me in many ways.
Written on Apr 01, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 1 month on issues concerning relationship issues, and grief
Happy to have someone who listens.
Written on Mar 17, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 7 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
Karen is wonderful! After a session with her I feel better, motivated and energized to work toward positive changes. She offers a wonderful balance of concern, support, and compassion.
Written on Jan 16, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, and coping with life changes
Karen is so kind and caring and realistic. Therapy has been amazing with her!
Written on Jan 10, 2024 after therapy with Karen for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Karen is one of the most incredible and helpful therapists I’ve worked with. I am so fortunate to have been matched with her on BetterHelp.
Written on Oct 07, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, and adhd
Karen has exceeded my expectations!
Written on Sep 29, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Karen is exactly what I needed, very grateful for her.
Written on Aug 24, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, and self esteem
So far it's been a very great experience
Written on Jul 23, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and anger management
I absolutely love her and have loved her from the moment I met her.. she is so warm and truly expresses a caring and kind attitude. She has helped me with situations in my life that I don’t know I would get through without her. I feel like I can tell her anything. Better help did a great job matching us!! Thank you
Written on May 26, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 9 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and self esteem
I love the vibe Karen gives as a therapist, she is warm and comforting. She is encouraging and down to earth, thank you for being here for me!
Written on Mar 17, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, grief, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, and compassion fatigue
Karen is awesome! She has so many different methods and ideas on how to manage any kind of issue you have, or just be there to listen when you need someone to listen! Her different tools, attention to detail, knowledge, and care are out of this world!
Written on Mar 02, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
Karen is really helpful in setting personal goals and also provides an environment that feels non-judgmental and safe.
Written on Feb 09, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, parenting issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
Amazing
Written on Jan 14, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 1 month on issues concerning depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, self esteem, coaching, and compassion fatigue
The best of the best!
Written on Jan 10, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, grief, and anger management
Karen’s therapy style was just what I needed. Highly recommend!
Written on Jan 06, 2023 after therapy with Karen for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, grief, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
Karen is great at encouraging little steps to regain a healthy sense of self.
Written on Dec 10, 2022 after therapy with Karen for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and grief
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