I'm Karen Fry, LCSW. I’ve been a therapist for a long time (18 years) and I love what I do. I graduated with a master’s of Social Work degree from UALR in 2006. I see my profession as a calling. One of my greatest joys is working with someone who begins to see that they have the power to change their life and find healing. The theories and skills that we practice can lead to healing and change. I know because I’ve learned to practice the skills and theories in my own life. I live in Little Rock and enjoy spending time with my two adult kids. I enjoy walking/hiking and bicycling on the Arkansas River Trail. I love traveling, whether it’s near or far.
My approach
Contacting a new therapist for the first time is hard. All these complicated problems start merging. It’s hard to tell where to start and how to even talk about it. You and I will begin working together from the very first session. We will talk some about the issues you are facing and what you might want to accomplish. I work with a variety of interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, Strengths-Based, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and other interventions. Therapy can be hard work. Making any permanent change in your life will take work and time. You will learn new skills and ways of looking at problems and emotions. Once you are familiar with each skill, we will practice during the session. You will be encouraged to practice the new skill between our meetings as well. I know you have the power to make changes. I’ve worked with people who have overcome crippling depression, anxiety, and loss. They form new healthy relationships and mend broken ones. They find a new path forward. You will too! You will discover that you have control over your problems, rather than your problems controlling you.
My focus
I currently provide individual therapy to people with depression, anxiety, grief issues, and people coping with trauma. I work with adults and adolescents. I work with clients who are female, male, and nonbinary.
My communication style
As a therapist, I will always be on your side – listening to your story and working to understand how you’re feeling. Together, we’ll discuss your options and develop tools to get you back to feeling like yourself. We’ll then periodically check your progress and tweak or adjust our approach accordingly. You deserve a safe place to express your thoughts and feelings, and unconditional support every step of your healing journey.
My journey to mental healthcare
My life was changed by working with a therapist. I decided to become a therapist so I can, hopefully, pass that gift to others. What I've learned in my career is surprisingly simple. I believe that you have the answers inside of you. I can provide perspective and skills. Then together we will discover the answers you need to move forward with your life.
My goals for you
We will begin working on what you want to accomplish in therapy. I believe in setting short-term, achievable goals. A good way to start setting goals is to ask, "In three months, how will I know if I'm better? What will I be doing that I can't do today?" Together we will identify specific ways for you to feel better, cope with problems, and improve relationships.
My first session with you
The first few sessions allow us to get to know each other and determine how you want to improve. My style is casual as we talk through your issues and how you can see improvements. We work together on what you want to accomplish. I often like to draw pictures to explain concepts, although I'm no artist.