Carissa Karner, LMFT

Trauma-Informed EMDR Therapist & Consultant

Helping high-functioning adults heal from past pain, transform perfectionism, and reconnect to their innate strength.

I didn’t become a therapist because I had it all figured out.

I became a therapist because I know what it feels like to be stuck—even when things look fine on the outside.

Before I sat in the therapist chair, I felt alone and overwhelmed. Trying to push through. Performing. Overthinking. Smiling on the surface while feeling like a failure inside.

I thought everyone else had it all together—and I thought I had to always seem like I had it all together—so I kept my pain secret.

But that didn't make things better.

It took years (and lots of help) to turn inward and heal: to discover that I was loveable just as I am.

I didn’t become a therapist because I had it all figured out.

I became a therapist because I know what it feels like to be stuck—even when things look fine on the outside.

Before I sat in the therapist chair, I felt alone and overwhelmed. Trying to push through. Performing. Overthinking. Smiling on the surface while feeling like a failure inside.

I thought everyone else had it all together—and I thought I had to always seem like I had it all together—so I kept my pain secret.

But that didn't make things better.

It took years (and lots of help) to discover that there is nothing wrong with me.

My work is built on this core belief: You’re not broken.

You just need support to feel whole again.

Here's a story for you.

In Thailand, a clay Buddha sat untouched for centuries—plain, ordinary, overlooked. But one day, during a move, the statue cracked. And do you know what they discovered underneath that bland clay?

Solid gold.

The clay had been added during a time of war to protect what was valuable. Over time, people forgot what was underneath—until the crack let the light through.

That’s what I see in you.

Anxiety, perfectionism, sadness, overwhelm, confusion—those are the layers of protection.

But underneath: You are whole, unbroken. And full of light.

Our work isn’t to fix you—it’s to gently and lovingly uncover the solid gold that's always been there.

I bring heart, skill, and a sense of humor to the healing process.

I’m a licensed psychotherapist, a certified EMDR therapist, an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and a facilitator-in-training with the EMDR Institute. But I’m also a real human who’s done deep inner work myself—and I never ask clients to go anywhere I haven’t been willing to go.

I specialize in helping high-functioning adults heal from trauma, rewrite old narratives, and reclaim the parts of themselves that got buried along the way.

Sessions with me are warm, collaborative, and rooted in your nervous system’s natural drive toward healing. I use EMDR, parts work, and somatic tools to help you move forward in a way that feels safe, empowering, and real.

Book a Free Consult Call

I’m LGBTQ+ affirming, body-positive, neurodiversity-aware, and trauma-informed in everything I do. You are welcome here—fully and exactly as you are.

How We Can Work Together

In-Person or

Virtual Therapy

Let's get to work on clearing out what's been keeping you stuck. EMDR is the most effective therapeutic tool I have found, and it has created incredible results for my clients (and myself).

Schedule Your Free Call

EMDR Consultation for Therapists

If you're an EMDR-trained therapist wanting support with bringing EMDR more fully into your practice, if you need help with complex trauma cases, or if you are working toward certification, I offer 1:1 consultation and group options.