Hi! I’m Karensa. I am a Queer Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia with nine years of experience working in community mental health. If you are looking for an open-minded, non-judgmental, and fun counselor, you are looking in the right place. My top three core values are kindness, compassion, and genuineness. I have worked with a variety of concerns and diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety, family dynamics, relationship issues, abuse and trauma issues, work stress, and many others. I have specific training in working with LGBTQ+ individuals in an area where discrimination is prevalent. My counseling style is catered toward the individual as I get to know them. I work in Person-Centered, Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. I feel like learning mindfulness is an important skill for everyone, and is something I practice myself. I believe it is important to look at where each individual is in their life, and what it will take them to achieve their goals and find their personal meaning. I believe in setting goals early and checking in often on how you feel like you are progressing towards them. I am gender-affirming; always respect your chosen name and pronouns, and am sex-positive. I practice cultural humility and awareness. My office hours are currently Monday through Friday, hours vary depending on the day, but are typically afternoon and evening. All sessions are virtual. We will complete an assessment prior to starting therapy so that I can gather information about you and your presenting concerns. I know that there is much stigma around mental health concerns, and seeking counseling is a big step. It is something to be proud of just to be here, and I would be happy to take this journey with you. Trainings I have received: Society for Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities Conference – October 2020 Black History Month Conference – February 2022 Racial Healing, justice, and liberation in queer and trans communities Ethical Counseling of LGBTQ+ LGBTQ Youth: Clinical Strategies to support sexual orientation and gender identity Beyond the (gender) binary Working with Gender Expansive individuals in therapy I also have completed training in many areas other than lgbtq+ specific training, which allows me to meet the needs of a wide diversity of people. I am also a member of the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE) and Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), which are divisions of the American Counseling Association. I know that there is much stigma around mental health concerns, and seeking counseling is a big step. It is something to be proud of just to be here, and I would be happy to take this journey with you. “Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful, and magical person that you are.”