Karen Grierson
Therapist / MFT, RPshe/her/hersKaren specializes in individual therapy with adults, using systems and attachment theories in conjunction with basic Buddhist tenets of mindfulness and compassion for Self and others, to guide client explorations through their own stories. This allows for a flexible combination of narrative and solution-focused approaches to identifying and articulating clients’ needs and goals, encouraging positive changes to help achieve them. Karen can help clients better understand the influence of interconnected thoughts, feelings, stories, values, and expectations on conscious and subconscious behaviours and decision-making patterns. She can also help reconnect them with the strengths and resources available to, and within, themselves in times of crisis.
- Individual Therapy
- You’re looking to explore gender, sexuality, BDSM, polyamory or swinging
- You work in high tech and would like support in coping with the stresses of your field
- You would like to improve the communication in your relationship
- You would like a thoughtful and constructive approach to your sessions, where you are met with supportive resources and an open-minded understanding
Session Types: Individual Therapy, Virtual Therapy
Specialties: Anxiety, BDSM & Kink, Career, Family of Origin, Gender and Sexual Orientation, Intimacy, Spirituality & Religion, Sexual Communication & Consent, Sexual Frequency & Differences in Desire, Sexual Pleasure, Sexual Values, Work-Life Balance
Approaches: Attachment Based Therapy, Contextual Therapy, Integrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gottman Method Relational Therapy, Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, Short-Term Solution Focused Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy
Professional communications has been Karen’s job in one form or another for twenty-five years. She has previously been a technical writer and information developer in Waterloo Region’s IT community, and is deeply understanding of the myriad stresses found in High Tech—and the impacts those stresses can have on one’s personal, family, and professional life. She is experienced with a broad spectrum of relationship styles and power-exchange dynamics, gender identities, and sexual orientations, including almost 30 years with the BDSM, polyamory, and swingers communities in Southwestern Ontario. Karen has also trained as a support group facilitator for those who have offended sexually, through Waterloo Region’s Community Justice Initiatives.
Spiritual issues and resources from all faith traditions are explicitly welcome. She has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism for several years, and pursued her Master’s degree in counselling through the multi-faith environment of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (Wilfrid Laurier University). Inclusion or exclusion of spiritual topics is entirely at the client’s discretion.
Therapeutic sessions with Karen are typically 50 minutes in length, but 90 minute sessions are also available by request.
Many Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and extended health care plans will cover services rendered by a Registered Psychotherapist.