Kari Fager, LCSW - Therapist in California

About Kari

Kari Fager is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on helping people handle stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and parenting concerns. She meets clients where they are and works alongside them to address what feels most urgent. Sessions can include faith-based counseling when a client prefers that option.

Kari uses practical, evidence-informed methods to untangle traumatic memories and ongoing stress. She often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.

Background and approach

She is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a method for reducing distress tied to past traumatic events. Her training includes a Master of Social Work from Dominican University and licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW.

Kari has roughly six years of clinical experience across U.S. and international settings and has worked in both community programs and clinical environments. In sessions she aims for an empathic, strengths-based tone and adapts techniques to each person’s needs. Practical skills, safety planning around traumatic stress, and clear steps for coping with life changes are common parts of the work.

Outside the office she spends time with family and enjoys nature. She also tries to convince her labradoodle Norah to become a therapy dog, which reflects her warm, down-to-earth approach to care.

How trauma-focused approaches work online

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is a hands-on method that looks at thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. It teaches practical coping skills and small experiments to change patterns that get in the way of daily life.

EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, helps reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories through structured processing. It is used when past events continue to cause distress and can be adapted for remote sessions by a trained provider.

Finding the right approach is part of the process, and the therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match needs and goals. That collaboration includes discussing comfort with trauma-focused work and adjusting pace and techniques as trust grows.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit care around family schedules, work, and other commitments. They also allow people to continue trauma-focused work and skills training from home, with practical follow-up between sessions when helpful.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

EMDR

A structured protocol used with distressing memories, pairing recall with guided attention tasks. Some therapists adapt it for video sessions; whether that fits is worth asking about directly.

Trauma-Focused Therapy

Work that takes difficult past experience into account and moves at a pace you set, with attention to feeling steady before anything else. Being in your own space can make that easier for some people.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Kari commonly address?

She focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self esteem, depression, coping with life changes, grief, and parenting. She also works with issues like forgiveness, guilt and shame, veteran and Armed Forces issues, post-traumatic stress, and women’s issues.

What is her general therapy style?

She uses an empathic, strengths-based, and adaptable approach. Sessions combine practical skills with trauma-focused techniques when needed.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Kari has six years of experience working in both clinical and community-based settings in the U.S. and abroad.

What credentials and location apply?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in California with license number CA LCSW 94366.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English only.

Can people from other countries work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted; she works with people located in California.

What session formats are offered?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 6 years
Licensed: California
Languages: English

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