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Karena Franses

Karena Franses

LCSW

California

Experienced LCSW offering compassionate, practical help

Continue with Karena

At a glance

Credentials
LCSW
License
LCSW, California / 18975
Experience
28 years
Languages
English
Location
California

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Psychodynamic focus
    • Accepts international clients

    About Karena

    Karena Franses is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 28 years of experience in both hospital and private practice settings. She brings a steady, compassionate presence and a long personal commitment to meditation and Buddhist-informed kindness. People describe her approach as patient and focused on uncovering the sources of suffering so they can find relief.

    Karena spent many years as a social work supervisor in a busy outpatient HIV clinic in San Francisco, working with large caseloads and complex needs. She later ran a private psychodynamic practice seeing individuals and couples. Those roles shaped the way she balances direct, practical help with deeper exploration of history and relationships.

    Her clinical work includes Motivational Interviewing, which she used often in the clinic when addressing addiction and readiness for change. She also draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at how past experiences affect present patterns. Sessions typically involve talking through feelings, identifying patterns, and setting small, doable goals.

    Karena helps people facing addiction, depression, bipolar challenges, anxiety, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, and stress from caregiving or illness. She also supports concerns around body image, eating and food-related issues, HIV/AIDS, and life purpose. Her practice reflects decades of work with trauma, loss, and resilience.

    Karena works in California and offers sessions in English. She welcomes international clients and asks interested people to use the Start Therapy button to begin the matching process and schedule according to availability.

  2. How Karena’s approaches are used in online therapy

    Karena uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find and strengthen their own reasons for change. That approach focuses on listening, asking helpful questions, and supporting small steps toward goals. It is often useful for addiction, readiness to change, and sticking with treatment plans.

    She also uses psychodynamic ideas to look at how earlier relationships and experiences shape current patterns. This approach helps uncover repeated behaviors or emotional responses that affect relationships, self-esteem, and coping with life changes.

    Finding the right approach is collaborative. She will talk with each person about goals, what has helped or not helped before, and preferences for how to work. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust the plan as needed.

    The practical upside of online work is fitting therapy into a busy life. Online sessions can make it easier to schedule during work breaks, reduce travel time, and keep continuity when circumstances change. Because the biography does not list specific session formats, confirm current options before booking so you know how sessions will be delivered.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteem

    Also works with

    Stress, AnxietyIntimacy-related issuesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changes

    Additional focus areas

    Body imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purpose

    Therapeutic approaches

    Motivational InterviewingPsychodynamic Therapy

    Experience

    28+ years

    Listed in

    California

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What concerns does she address?

    She works with addiction, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, grief, and stress-related problems. Additional focuses include body image, caregiving stress, eating issues, HIV/AIDS, and relationship or intimacy concerns.

    What is her therapeutic style like?

    Her style combines practical goal-setting with deeper exploration of past patterns. Sessions blend clear steps to change with thoughtful listening and reflection.

    How much experience does she have?

    She has 28 years of clinical experience, including long-term work in a hospital HIV clinic and a private psychodynamic practice.

    What are her credentials and location?

    She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, listed as CA LCSW, and practices in California.

    Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?

    Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

    What session formats are available?

    Please confirm current session options before booking as the biography does not list specific formats. The platform matching step will clarify how sessions are held.

    How are fees handled?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

    How do I begin working with her?

    Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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