Karen Guillory, LICSW

Karen Guillory is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience in the District of Columbia. She uses a straightforward, strengths-based approach to help people facing anxiety, stress, trauma, and life changes. Karen aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental setting where clients can talk through what matters to them and take manageable steps forward.

She often draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and test new ways of coping. She also uses client-centered methods to follow each person’s pace and priorities. Dialectical behavior therapy skills are included when emotion regulation and distress tolerance are needed.

Karen helps with many everyday and complex concerns. These include relationship and intimacy issues, parenting stress, grief, addiction-related problems, work and career strain, and challenges linked to chronic conditions such as bipolar disorder and ADHD. She also supports people coping with first responder stress, caregiver burdens, and multicultural or identity-related pressures.

Her style is practical and collaborative. Sessions focus on specific goals, skill-building, and small experiments clients can try between meetings. Karen respects each person’s background and life story, and uses narrative and solution-focused techniques to build on what is already working.

People who choose her often say they appreciate clear tools and a steady, encouraging presence. She encourages realistic change, one step at a time, and helps clients track progress toward the life they want.

CBT and Skills-Based Care Online

Karen commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try practical changes that reduce anxiety and improve mood. CBT focuses on clear skills and small experiments you can practice between sessions to create visible shifts in daily life.

She also draws on client-centered therapy, which means sessions follow each person’s priorities and pace while the therapist listens and reflects to help uncover strengths. Dialectical behavior therapy is used when people need concrete tools for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and tolerating distress. These DBT skills emphasize emotion regulation, mindfulness, and problem solving.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences, try methods that fit the situation, and adjust the plan as needed. Clients are invited to give feedback so the work stays useful and focused.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video sessions let you use visual cues and more in-depth conversation. Phone sessions can fit into a work break and need less bandwidth. Messaging or live chat can be useful for brief check-ins, skills practice, or when writing your thoughts helps clarify them. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep progress moving forward.