Karen Bradt, LCSW

Karen Bradt is a licensed clinical social worker and a certified trauma professional who blends clinical knowledge with practical, action-focused strategies to help people navigate anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, mood concerns, and life transitions. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a certificate in Addictions, and completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Central Florida. Her clinical experience includes supporting individuals with panic attacks, agoraphobia, borderline personality disorder, depression, histories of physical and psychological abuse, self-harm, sexual abuse, and other traumatic stressors.

She combines traditional talk therapy with education about how trauma affects the brain and with hands-on tools and small action steps designed to change automatic reactions to triggers. She stresses that while talk is important, taking concrete steps helps reprogram the brain's responses. She encourages experimentation with new techniques and reactions, and she centers the client as the expert on their own experience while offering guidance and specific tools.

Her work often begins with listening to what a person wants to address, then providing clear explanations about diagnoses and brain function, and finally introducing incremental exercises tailored to each person's needs - for example, brief behavioral experiments for someone with agoraphobia. She also emphasizes the connection between physical activity and mood, and draws on personal experience as a hiker, a former Florida Trail activity leader, and someone trained in wilderness first aid. On occasion she limits video availability during seasonal power outage periods - clients who prefer video are invited to request it so accommodations can be discussed.