Karen Ponder (baroody)

Karen Ponder (Baroody) is a highly experienced clinical social worker and therapist, with over two decades of clinical practice in South Florida, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Using a humanistic client-centered approach, she actively supports her clients seeking transformative change in their lives. Her extensive training and depth of understanding in human behavior and development reflect the high quality of her work with both adults and adolescents. By fostering a comfortable and safe environment, Karen helps clients navigate personal and professional challenges with resilience. She believes in normalizing counseling not only as a means of treatment but also as an educational tool for clients to achieve emotional balance and mental clarity. Karen specializes in addressing relational, behavioral, and emotional issues, and her clinical expertise encompasses the various social and emotional needs of her diverse clientele, which includes men’s mental health, professionals, executives, families, and teens. Renowned for her direct and compassionate approach, Karen remains sensitive to the unique needs of each client. Emphasizing that healing is not a one-size-fits-all journey, she actively collaborates with her clients through a therapeutic-coaching modality, ensuring that they adapt their strategies when previous methods no longer yield results.