Who is Karen?

* * Karen Baker is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate, Supervised by Allison Eckelkamp MA, LPC-S, RPT-S™, EMDRIA Approved Consultant * *

As a native Austinite, I am dedicated to supporting and caring for the community I hold dear. Inspired by the concept of the Wounded Healer—where healing our wounds helps us cultivate deeper compassion for others—it's a privilege to guide people on their healing journey, especially those facing trauma and anxiety. I’m also deeply committed to advocating for the rights of minorities and marginalized communities.

In May 2024, I earned a Master’s of Education in Counseling and Development. Despite the rigors of academia and maintaining a 4.0, I pursued additional training to help me best serve my clients, like Dynamic Enriched Experiential Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems Circle, EMDR, and Emotional Transformational Therapy. Most recently, my father, a therapist for nearly 25 years, and I launched a podcast “Bridging Generations: Exploring Mental Health Together”.

I have had the opportunity to serve and support a variety of individuals. At the YWCA Austin, I gained invaluable experience in trauma-informed and culturally sensitive therapies. I facilitated trauma-informed yoga and co-facilitated groups for sexual abuse survivors and neurodivergent individuals. As well as, training with Texans Against Violence on addressing the complex grief of family members who have relatives on death row. Crossroad Counseling and Associates, I worked with couples and individuals navigating betrayal trauma and infidelity, offering support through their healing processes, and created content focusing on the importance of emotional regulation.

As far as my personal life, I find joy in quality time with loved ones, yoga, hiking, paddleboarding, or walks with my dog. An avid reader and always welcome a book recommendation. I recently taught myself to crochet and have started to bake sourdough bread,  embracing a spirit of continual learning and creativity.

Cultural Resume

  • I consider myself an LGBTQIA ally. As the daughter of a gay man, I prioritize learning, listening, and asking questions to try to grow my understanding of the LGBTQIA experience and ways in which I can be a better ally.

  • I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood and witnessed racial bias in my community from an early age. Despite this not being taught in my home, deconstructing these unconscious biases is an ongoing process. I work to acknowledge my privilege, unlearn unconscious biases, and seek opportunities to advocate for those who have been marginalized.

  • I am unlearning the toxicity of Purity Culture and other shameful legalistic religious movements. I am a deeply spiritual person but I am unlearning various shameful religious teachings around power, politics, sexuality, gender, and gender roles.

  • I grew up in a white upper-middle-class family with deep connections to Evangelical Fundamentalist Christianity.

  • My privilege includes being white, able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual, educated, English-speaking, and a naturalized citizen.

  • I am the daughter of divorced parents and have a large blended family.

  • Negative societal influences in and on my upbringing included racism, homophobia, gender discrimination, legalistic Christianity, and spiritual bypassing.

  • I have experienced intimate partner violence, betrayal trauma, and infidelity.

  • As a woman, I have experienced gender discrimination and bias throughout my life.