Karen Risch, MA, RN, LPC
About Me
Relationships can be deeply meaningful, but they can also become sources of frustration, hurt, and disconnection. Perhaps you and your partner find yourselves having the same arguments without making progress, feeling misunderstood or dismissed, or struggling to rebuild trust after infidelity. You may care deeply about one another but feel increasingly distant, unsure how to reconnect, or uncertain about the future of your relationship.
I work with couples who want to understand these patterns, communicate more effectively, and build a stronger, more connected relationship. Whether you are navigating the aftermath of betrayal, working through longstanding differences, or trying to reconnect after a period of emotional distance, therapy can help you have difficult conversations with greater understanding and respect.
I also work with individuals and families experiencing relational challenges, including strained or estranged relationships between parents and adult children. My goal is to help people better understand themselves and one another, work through painful experiences, and find a path toward healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
My Experience
I hold a master’s degree in counseling from California State University, Northridge, with a focus on marriage, family, and community-based counseling. I later earned a nursing degree in Oregon and worked as a psychiatric registered nurse, bringing together my backgrounds in mental health and counseling.
My experience as a nurse gave me specialized knowledge of dementia, medical and medication-related concerns, substance use and addiction, domestic violence, and depression. This broader clinical perspective informs my work with individuals, couples, and families navigating complex personal and relational challenges.
Throughout my counseling work, I have focused on helping people improve communication, understand recurring relationship patterns, rebuild trust, and develop greater self-awareness. I value helping clients move beyond feeling stuck and toward meaningful, lasting change.
Specialties
- Couples Therapy and Relationship Counseling
- Affair Recovery and Rebuilding Trust After Infidelity
- Communication and Conflict Resolution
- Emotional Disconnection and Relationship Repair
- Family Estrangement and Parent–Adult Child Relationships
- Individual Therapy and Personal Growth
- Childhood Experiences and Their Impact on Adult Relationships
- Depression, Addiction, and Related Life Challenges
Therapy Approach
I believe that meaningful change begins with a better understanding of ourselves and the patterns we bring into our relationships. In therapy, I help clients identify the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that contribute to conflict or disconnection while developing practical skills for communicating more effectively and responding to one another with greater understanding.
My approach is grounded primarily in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps clients recognize and change unhelpful patterns. I also draw from Gottman Method principles, Relational Life Therapy (RLT), attachment theory, and family systems theory to help couples and families understand the dynamics that keep them feeling stuck.
When working with individuals, I may also incorporate inner child work to explore how childhood experiences and unmet emotional needs continue to influence present-day challenges. Together, we can work toward greater self-awareness, healthier patterns, and more fulfilling connections with the people who matter most to you.
My approach is collaborative and focused on helping you develop both a deeper understanding of your experiences and practical tools you can use in everyday life.
Who I Am
After completing my graduate studies, I moved to Oregon, drawn to its natural beauty, hiking opportunities, wildlife, and the appeal of shorter commutes. My nursing background and counseling experience have shaped my appreciation for the many factors that influence our well-being, relationships, and ability to navigate life’s challenges.
I believe that people can continue to grow and change throughout their lives, even when they have been struggling with the same issues for years. I value helping clients approach difficult conversations with curiosity, develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others, and find greater peace in their relationships and their lives.
Let’s Connect
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel difficult, especially when you have been struggling with a relationship for a long time. You do not have to keep navigating the same painful patterns on your own.
Whether you are hoping to rebuild trust after infidelity, reconnect with your partner, repair a strained family relationship, or better understand yourself, I would welcome the opportunity to work with you. Together, we can begin exploring what has brought you here and identify a path toward greater understanding, connection, and lasting change.