Dedicated to psychoeducation & helping others in the greater Austin area.
Who is Karen Baker?
Born and raised in North Austin, Karen has traveled all over the globe and has lived in several different cities: Austin, Denver, Boston, and Phoenix, to name a few. Karen received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. Above all else, she desires to help and empower people and has always known she would eventually become an LPC. However, before attending grad school to become a Counselor/Psychotherapist, Karen held a variety of different jobs that provided her with valuable tools to serve and support others.
After college, she worked in IT sales and bartended in Dallas, Texas. These experiences taught her how to become a better listener, function in a stressful environment, and mix a great cocktail. She then shifted to the finance industry, working for a small wealth management company in Phoenix, Arizona. The company specialized in helping couples mediate through divorce and split their assets as soundly as possible. Working with people in one of the most statistically stressful moments in life further honed her skills for empathy and meditation.
Since 2013, Karen has also been a yoga instructor, teaching classes to both groups and individuals. Through yoga, she has learned the importance of befriending the body, practicing meditation and breathing, and engaging in regular exercise.
During her master's program, Karen was deeply inspired by the concept of the Wounded Healer, that "we heal others by our wounds," which further affirmed her chosen path. She hopes to work with individuals battling trauma, anxiety, depression, intimate partner violence, grief, and betrayal trauma. Additionally, she is incredibly passionate about providing Gender Affirming care and empowering disenfranchised communities.
**Karen is seeing therapy clients for her internship, under the supervision of Maya Amos at the YWCA and Rick Reynolds of Crossroad Counseling**