Karl Nielsen

Licensed Professional Counselor Associate|Clinically Supervised

Many people feel burdened by internal conflict, deep trauma, heavy grief, or painful intimacy issues. I help clients heal from these wounds through Internal Family Systems Therapy. In this non-pathologizing approach, we recognize that you are not a singular, "broken" person, but a complex system of various "parts" that often find themselves in conflict. You might have a part of you that desperately wants to connect with others, while another part protects you by pushing people away, and my role is to help you lead these parts from your "Self", which is the core of who you are — characterized by qualities like compassion, confidence, and calm. By understanding that even your most difficult behaviors usually began as a way to protect you from pain, we can move away from cycles of self-sabotage or criticism and toward a sustainable internal harmony that allows you to finally live the life and be the person you truly desire. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Christian Theology from Seattle Pacific University, followed by both a Master of Theology and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary. I specialize in helping adults heal from the profound impact of childhood trauma, attachment injuries, and the painful experience of family scapegoating, where one child is unfairly blamed for the family’s collective dysfunction; walking alongside those who are processing the heavy weight of grief and loss; and navigating emotional and sexual intimacy issues with couples or individuals, including performance anxiety, mismatched libido, and intimacy avoidance. My clinical focus also encompasses areas such as anxiety, depression, abuse, complex trauma, and the unique challenges faced by college students, athletes, and young professionals, as well as military personnel, veterans, and their family members. I am particularly drawn to working with highly sensitive persons who experience the world with a deep level of cognitive processing and intense emotional reactivity, frequently feeling overwhelmed by sensory input or the emotions of others. While I work with adults, couples, families, and adolescents, please note that I do not see minors whose parents are currently undergoing a divorce. My therapeutic approach is tailored to your specific needs, primarily utilizing Internal Family Systems while drawing from emotionally focused therapy to help you build secure emotional bonds based on attachment theory, cognitive behavioral therapy to address unhelpful thought patterns, and somatic therapy to reconnect you with your body and understand how your nervous system responds to stress and trauma. For sexual intimacy concerns, I use sensate focus therapy to rebuild physical connection with your partner through mindful, non-demand touch in a safe and structured way. My therapeutic style is balanced by warmth and gentleness, yet I am committed to being honest and direct with you when it is necessary for your growth. I believe that while interventions are helpful, the most important factor in your success is the strength of our therapeutic relationship based on trust and mutual respect. I value your agency and will emphasize the importance of taking personal responsibility for your healing while providing you with the tools and support you need to succeed. This often includes the use of visual aids, relevant books or workbooks, and specific exercises or homework, ensuring that our work remains practical and integrated into your daily life. I offer faith-based therapy that is respectful of your spiritual journey and cultural background, regardless of your religious identity, and Christian counseling for Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox believers alike. I understand that faith can be a source of immense strength, but it can also be a place of deep pain, and I provide a safe space to process concerns such as doubt, disillusionment, and scrupulosity. If you have experienced "church hurt" or the devastating effects of religious abuse and trauma, we can untangle those wounds with sensitivity and care so that spirituality can become a source of healing and hope rather than shame or fear. My commitment is to honor and incorporate your personal beliefs, values, and culture into our work, ensuring that therapy feels like a space where your whole self, including your spiritual life, is welcomed and understood without judgment. My passion for this work is rooted in my own life story and the experiences that have shaped me. I was born into a military family, moving between Texas and Germany, before growing up primarily in Washington (Go Hawks!), where I developed a love for the outdoors while backpacking the Olympics, skiing the Cascades, biking the San Juan Islands, and twice summiting Mt. St. Helens. I spent my youth in the Pacific Northwest as a competitive long-distance runner and swimmer, eventually teaching young children to swim, and I am proud to be a third-generation Eagle Scout. I have been fortunate to travel and study throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, which broadened my understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures around the world. My life has also been touched by significant loss, including the death of a partner during my college years and, later, a parent, both to cancer. These experiences of grief have given me a deep empathy for those walking through their own “valley of the shadow of death”. Ultimately, my father’s medical career as a physician in the U.S. Army and my own journey of personal healing in counseling were the primary inspirations for me to become a therapist. Since 2022, I have been happily married and love spending time with my wife and our cat, often taking road trips to camp and hike in state and national parks. Outside therapy, I enjoy creating art, brewing coffee, watching movies, playing video or board games, and reading a good science fiction or fantasy book. I look forward to meeting you and hearing your story.‍ “Where there’s life there’s hope.” — J.R.R. Tolkien