Karen Porterfield, LCSW

Licensed in New York · 3 years in practice

Karen Porterfield is a licensed clinical social worker in New York who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma and abuse, and relationship problems.

License and registration

LCSW, New York: 098163 · expires July 2027
NPI: 1831768092 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 3
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About Karen

Karen Porterfield is a licensed clinical social worker in New York who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma and abuse, and relationship problems. She writes simply and listens closely to what matters most to each person. Sessions aim to build self-awareness and practical skills so daily life feels more manageable.

Her approach blends problem-focused tools and a respectful, person-centered stance. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.

Background and approach

Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used for emotion regulation and handling intense feelings when those are getting in the way. Mindfulness and self-compassion practices appear regularly in sessions to reduce reactivity and increase calm. Narrative techniques can help people reframe painful experiences and make sense of difficult events.

The work is often short-term and solution-focused when clients want concrete changes quickly. Karen aims to make therapy practical and down to earth. She helps clients set clear goals, practice skills between sessions, and track small gains.

Communication is plain and warm rather than clinical or jargon-heavy. With three years of clinical experience, she draws on a handful of well-established methods to match what each person needs. She welcomes questions about how therapy will look and encourages people to be active participants in deciding next steps.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Karen lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Anger management
Depression

Approaches Karen names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-centered work focuses on listening and responding to each person's priorities, helping them feel heard and guiding conversations toward what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches simple steps to notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions and improving distress tolerance when feelings become overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and will be decided together. The therapist will ask about the client's goals, what has helped in the past, and what feels doable now, then recommend methods and adjust over time based on progress and preference.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skill coaching, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be a shorter check-in, and text messaging suits ongoing support between appointments. These options make scheduling easier and let people keep therapy going from work breaks or when travel is difficult.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does Karen help with?

She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, anger, and depression.

What is her therapy style like?

Sessions are person-centered and collaborative, focusing on clear goals, practical skills, and self-awareness in everyday life.

How much clinical experience does she have?

The therapist has three years of clinical experience working with the concerns listed.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

She is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - licensed in New York and practices from that location.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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