Karen is a Catholic psychotherapist in private practice at Gloria Deo Counseling, located in North Scottsdale at the northeast corner of Greenway and 64th Street. Originally from Riverview, Michigan—a small town about 20 miles south of Detroit—she is the youngest of three children. Her only surviving sibling resides in Iowa. Karen is a proud mother of two grown sons, a delighted mother-in-law, and a joyful grandmother to her first grandchild, Murphy Belle, who she calls her “new favorite person.” She also shares her home with a spirited French Bulldog named Lil Mike.
Karen’s journey of healing began in 2005 when, by the grace of God, she embraced sobriety. This turning point marked the beginning of a transformative path that led her through deep personal growth and renewal. Along the way, the Adult Child Community, her sponsor, and her therapist played pivotal roles in teaching her how to nurture and care for her inner child. Influential healing communities such as Rachel’s Vineyard, The Cursillo Movement, Silent No More Heroes, and Grief to Grace have also served as “lanterns of love,” illuminating a path forward that she once thought impossible.
In her therapeutic work, Karen is passionate about helping clients engage in deep, meaningful self-work that unlocks their potential and reveals their God-given identity. She embraces a Thomistic approach to psychotherapy, which sees suffering as a potential means of spiritual and psychological growth. Her practice emphasizes the development of virtue, the integration of intellect and will, and the pursuit of right reason as pathways to healing and wholeness. She is committed to helping others discover authentic dignity, true freedom, and their unique identity as beloved children of God through restorative methods that strengthen mind, body, and spirit.
Outside of her professional life, Karen enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, hiking, running, writing, attending Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, participating in the Legion of Mary, and pursuing her bucket list. Her lifelong goal is to glorify God and faithfully follow the path He has laid before her. With hope, gratitude, and humility, Karen seeks to serve those He sends her, striving to be a “lantern of love” in return for the grace she has so generously received.
