About Karen

For over twenty years I have been offering psychotherapy, So(U)L coaching and spiritual direction, supervision and mentoring to individuals, couples, groups and organizations.  

Most recently I have created a more contemporary approach that integrates trustworthy principles and effective practices from psychotherapy, social work, coaching and spiritual guidance. 

I have been enormously impacted by the writing and mentorship of Quaker educator Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage and Renewal, as well as the Strozzi Institute and embodied leadership coaching. In addition to my private practice, I am currently an in-house mentor and consultant to The Dinner Party, a global community of adults in their 20s and 30s who have experienced the death of a parent, partner, child, sibling, or close friend. 

I’ve also served on the faculty at a variety of educational institutions, including:

Logo: Graduate Theological Foundation
Logo: Sofia University

Logo: Starr King School for the Ministry

Graduate Theological Foundation – Professor of Jewish Spirituality

Sofia University (formerly the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology) – Core Faculty

Logo: The Chaplaincy Institute
Logo: Morei Derekh training program at Yedidya Center for Jewish Spiritual Direction
Logo: UCSF Health


Interfaith Spiritual Direction Training Program at the Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley -Adjunct Faculty


Morei Derekh Training Program, Yedidya Center for Jewish Spiritual Direction – Core Faculty


University of California-San Francisco – Department of OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences – Clinical Specialist


Writing has been a lifelong passion of mine. My writing has appeared in a number of anthologies and professional journals, including Women and Therapy,  CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly and the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. For the past 15 years I have written regularly for Presence: the Journal of Spiritual Directors International.

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Social Work from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH, and my Master of Social Services degree from Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social research. Bringing the spiritual dimension to my work eventually led me to study and receive a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2015 from the Graduate Theological Foundation, where my doctoral project received the Mother Teresa Award for Spirituality and Community Service.


photo by Sarah Deragon