Karen Bradt , LCSW

Karen Bradt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and certified trauma professional based in Florida who blends practical tools with trauma-informed education to help clients move forward. During winter months she limits video scheduling because of mountain conditions and frequent power outages - if video sessions are needed she asks that clients indicate that preference when arranging care.

She earned a Bachelor of Social Work and a certificate in Addictions, then completed a master’s degree in clinical social work at the University of Central Florida. Over a 15-year career she has worked with people managing anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, borderline personality features, depression, histories of physical and psychological abuse, self-harm, sexual abuse, and other traumatic experiences. Her approach combines traditional talk therapy with clear education about how trauma affects the brain and with concrete action steps designed to change automatic reactions.

She emphasizes that the brain’s responses are protective rather than “crazy,” and she encourages clients to experiment with new techniques and responses to triggers and difficult relationships. Treatment typically begins with getting to know the client and identifying goals, followed by education about diagnoses and brain function, then gradual practice of skills and small behavioral steps - for example, short practical experiments to address avoidance. Physical health and activity are also part of her work; she draws on personal experience as a hiker, a former activity leader for the Florida Trail, and someone trained in wilderness first aid to support movement-based strategies when appropriate.

Clients are invited to communicate what does and does not work so techniques can be adjusted. If a prospective client has requested to work with her and did not receive a response, she notes that she is not refusing contact - occasionally messages are removed before she has time to reply.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns of relating. It helps people understand and heal feelings of abandonment, attachment wounds, and difficulties forming secure connections by exploring relational history and building safer ways of relating.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and many day-to-day challenges by breaking problems into manageable steps and testing new ways of responding.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the client’s expertise about their own life and creates a collaborative space where goals and techniques are guided by the client’s needs. This approach supports self-discovery and steady progress through empathetic, nonjudgmental collaboration.

Finding the right blend of strategies is part of the therapeutic process. Karen Bradt works with clients to determine which approaches fit best based on their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting methods and pacing as the work unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexibility to meet clients where they are - whether by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity through moves or travel, and access licensed professionals from home or other convenient locations.