“I often tell people that I am allergic to being told what to do, which is why I deeply respect others’ autonomy. I request feedback to tailor sessions and coping strategies to fit your lifestyle, maximizing your ease and comfort. With a wealth of therapeutic tools and lived experiences, I assist in managing lives affected by anxiety, depression, addiction, codependency, abuse, and trauma. I am driven by the belief that every individual is inherently valuable. My role as a clinical mental health therapist is to provide a space where clients can explore and uncover their unique paths to enhanced mental well-being. I aim to help my clients recognize and embrace their worth. My goal is to offer my support to clients, celebrate their progress and empower them to thrive independently.”
With Karleena, clients collaboratively investigate current thoughts, feelings and behaviors that may not be helpful to self-esteem, relationships or employment. he uses EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients become curious about parts of themselves that developed for survival in painful situations. After reviewing patient history and developing a list of targets, Karleena will work with her clients on desensitizing and adaptively reprocessing misperceptions of self. EMDR can also be used to desensitize cravings, urges and thoughts related to substance use, compulsive behavior and chronic pain. Mindfulness, CBT and DBT skills are employed to increase self-awareness, restructure thoughts and enhance distress tolerance. Karleena gives special care to those with intensely emotional sessions, often scheduling at the end of the day to offer extra time for grounding and returning to calm. Often, concepts of self and body, ways of coping with intense emotions, and relationships at home and work improve, while anxiety, depression and substance use or compulsive behaviors decrease. By discovering and developing more positive ways of perceiving self and others, and practicing alternate ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, peace and serenity can be experienced—sometimes for the first time.
Karleena utilizes therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Motivational Therapy (MI), Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness to best meet the needs of her clients. She also uses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). She draw inspiration from the book “No Bad Parts”, authored by the founder of Internal Family Systems. Additionally, she has undergone numerous trainings led by professionals well known in the field, including Addictions EMDR, EMDR for Attachment Focus, and Level 1 & 2 EMDR + IFS training (EMDRIA approved).
Karleena’s experience includes working with individuals who have faced depression, anxiety, co-occurring disorders, childhood and adult trauma, relational and marital conflict, domestic violence, PTSD, chronic pain, LGBTQ+ (Trans) issues, and substance use. She has direct care experience with inpatient mental health, senior citizens, children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and adolescent boys at a group home for delinquency issues.
Karleena is a Licensed Masters of Social Work (LMSW) and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC). She completed her undergraduate degree at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and her Master’s of Social Work (Clinical Focus) at Grand Valley State University. She has been practicing since 2021 after an internship at Pine Rest Retreat Clinic’s detox unit.
Karleena values community support groups such as AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery and Buddhist/Refuge Recovery. She has experience with trauma, addictions, divorce, single parenting, and LGBTQ populations. Karleena values all who subscribe to or don’t subscribe to faith or religious traditions.
