Karen Gano, MD, LCSW-C, LCSW, CSW
Empowerment-focused clinical social worker
- Empowerment counseling
- Trauma-informed care
- Supports life transitions
About Karen Gano
Karen Gano brings more than three decades of clinical counseling experience to her work, blending a goal-oriented and holistic approach that centers on empowerment. She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh and holds professional credentials listed as MD, LCSW-C, LCSW, and CSW; the LCSW-C, LCSW, and CSW reflect advanced clinical social work licensure and training. Karen is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in multiple jurisdictions, and her background includes long-term practice as a medical social worker in settings such as trauma, emergency medicine, critical care, oncology, palliative care, and domestic abuse services.
Her practice emphasizes what she calls Empowerment Counseling, where motivational interviewing and compassion-focused attitudes support clients in finding their voice and building resilience. She also integrates client-centered, solution-focused brief therapy, mindfulness techniques, and strength-based methods to help people clarify goals, improve coping, and make meaningful changes. Karen primarily works with women experiencing life transitions - for example separation, divorce, career shifts, relocation, empty nest, and illness - and she also provides specialized support for healthcare workers drawing on her clinical experience in medical settings.
Common clinical areas of focus include relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, stress and anxiety, addictions, intimacy-related issues, anger, career challenges, bipolar disorder, depression, and compassion fatigue. Additional areas she addresses encompass abandonment, aging and geriatric issues, blended family dynamics, cancer-related and hospice counseling, caregiver stress, codependency, divorce and separation, domestic violence, fertility concerns, infidelity, isolation and loneliness, life purpose work, and midlife transitions.
Karen employs client-centered and trauma-focused approaches alongside motivational interviewing and solution-focused strategies to tailor care to each person’s needs. Her guiding professional maxim is "Self-Care + Time = Healing," and she works to equip people with practical coping tools and self-awareness that support movement from surviving to thriving.
Her practice emphasizes what she calls Empowerment Counseling, where motivational interviewing and compassion-focused attitudes support clients in finding their voice and building resilience. She also integrates client-centered, solution-focused brief therapy, mindfulness techniques, and strength-based methods to help people clarify goals, improve coping, and make meaningful changes. Karen primarily works with women experiencing life transitions - for example separation, divorce, career shifts, relocation, empty nest, and illness - and she also provides specialized support for healthcare workers drawing on her clinical experience in medical settings.
Common clinical areas of focus include relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, stress and anxiety, addictions, intimacy-related issues, anger, career challenges, bipolar disorder, depression, and compassion fatigue. Additional areas she addresses encompass abandonment, aging and geriatric issues, blended family dynamics, cancer-related and hospice counseling, caregiver stress, codependency, divorce and separation, domestic violence, fertility concerns, infidelity, isolation and loneliness, life purpose work, and midlife transitions.
Karen employs client-centered and trauma-focused approaches alongside motivational interviewing and solution-focused strategies to tailor care to each person’s needs. Her guiding professional maxim is "Self-Care + Time = Healing," and she works to equip people with practical coping tools and self-awareness that support movement from surviving to thriving.
Areas of Expertise
Also Specializes In
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFertility issuesHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisWomen's issues
Therapeutic Approach
Client-Centered Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Karen Gano have?
She has 33 years of clinical counseling experience.
Is Karen Gano a licensed therapist?
Yes. Her listed credentials include MD, LCSW-C, LCSW, and CSW. The LCSW-C, LCSW, and CSW are advanced clinical social work licenses. License details include MD LCSW-C 27193 and CO LCSW CSW.09924060.
In which languages does Karen Gano provide therapy?
English
Where is Karen Gano located?
New Mexico
How can I work with Karen Gano as my therapist?
You can work with Karen through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Karen Gano work with international clients?
She does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Karen Gano cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Could Online Therapy Be a Good Fit for You?
Many people wonder whether meeting with a therapist remotely can make a real difference. For most common concerns - such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or navigating life changes - online therapy has been shown to be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions.One of the primary benefits is flexibility. Individuals can connect with a therapist in the format that fits their routine and comfort level: video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or in-app messaging. This adaptability often makes it easier to maintain consistency and integrate therapeutic work into daily life.
Sessions are provided by licensed professionals, and therapists can be changed if a different therapeutic fit is desired. For many people, online therapy offers a practical, accessible way to pursue support while balancing the demands of work, family, and other responsibilities.