Karin Clements

About Karin

My approach

I vary my approach based on what we are treating. Often I use a person-centered approach to help you explore your feelings. For PTSD, I use cognitive processing therapy which is more structured. For phobias and anxieties that lead to avoidant behavior, I use a behavior-based model which includes confronting your fears. I often use CBT as well.

About me

I have always wanted to spend my time doing things that mattered. To me, helping others is the best way to feel fulfilled in my work and life. Having others encourage me along the journey has helped as well, so I try to pass that encouragement on to others.

More background

What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?

I have always wanted to spend my time doing things that mattered. To me, helping others is the best way to feel fulfilled in my work and life. Having others encourage me along the journey has helped as well, so I try to pass that encouragement on to others.

What would be important for someone to know about working with you?

I like to think of ideas and practical things you can try between sessions. I am a deep thinker and am on the less talkative side. People describe me as genuine, caring, and calming. Depending on what we are treating, we may try different activities during the sessions such as exposure exercises for phobias and art or games for children or adolescents. I try to tailor my sessions to your needs while providing guidance according to my training.

If there was one thing you wish people knew about the therapy experience who might be hesitant to try it, what would that be?

It can absolutely feel uncomfortable at first and sometimes during therapy, but the powerful effect of not keeping your problems and emotions to yourself anymore is hard to underestimate. Problems grow when internalized and not dealt with. When you get them into the open in a safe space like therapy, they start to lose their hold on you.

Work history

I started my journey in social work working in a group home setting with adolescent boys who had severe behavior disturbances. Next, I worked as a family advocate with Early Head Start, focusing on providing support and education to at-risk families with very young children. I was a mental health clinical social worker for four years on the Mexican border in both the acute inpatient and outpatient setting. The people we served suffered from severe manifestations of mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder as well as severe Major Depression. This helped me understand mental illness and also deepened my understanding of Mexican culture. After a break to be with my kids when they were little, I returned to school for my master's degree and then worked in dialysis clinics supporting patients as they adjust to the life-changing demands of a serious health condition. I opened my private practice doing online and in-person therapy in April of 2022. In private practice, I help people with a variety of issues such as life stressors, coping with anxiety and depression, and relationship issues.

Specialties

Types of therapy

Who Karin works with

Ages

Preteens (11-13), Teens (14-19), Adults, Elders (65+)

Languages

English, Spanish

Education and training

Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Psychology, Union College, 1998

Master of Social Work in Social Work, Texas State University, 2015

Certifications

Strong Star Training for Cognitive Processing Therapy

Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

CBT for Insomnia