Karen Shaughness, LCSW

Karen Shaughness is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 38 years of clinical experience. She combines a patient-centered, holistic outlook with evidence-informed methods to support people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, addictions, family concerns, trauma, grief, sleep difficulties, parenting struggles, career transitions, bipolar disorder, and other mood or coping issues. Her practice spans a wide range of concerns including codependency, communication problems, first responder issues, isolation, obsessive-compulsive patterns, panic attacks, seasonal affective disorder, social anxiety, and women's issues.

Karen brings experience from working in a hospital setting and offers therapeutic work that draws on client-centered care, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindfulness practices. She has particular experience addressing addictions and complex family dynamics, helping clients explore patterns, build coping skills, and pursue meaningful change. Karen values a warm, open therapeutic stance and emphasizes collaboration in the process of identifying goals and strategies that fit each person’s life.

Outside of her clinical work she finds restoration in nature and near water, enjoying kayaking, concerts, films, gardening, and long walks and hikes with her golden retriever. She is available for sessions on Wednesdays after 6 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM, and typically reads messages and texts a couple of times during the day with initial responses within 24 hours.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Support

Karen integrates client-centered therapy, which focuses on creating an empathic, nonjudgmental environment where the individual’s goals guide the work. This approach helps people feel heard, build self-awareness, and make choices that reflect their values.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, a practical, skills-based method that helps identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and replace them with more effective ways of coping. CBT can be useful for stress, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and many mood-related concerns.

Mindfulness therapy is offered as a complementary tool to increase present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity. Mindfulness practices can support regulation of emotions, attention, and stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Karen works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies over time to support steady progress.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - provide flexibility for scheduling and ongoing contact between sessions. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or other settings, accommodate busy schedules, and maintain continuity of care during life transitions.