Building Steady Relationships In Unsteady Seasons
Couples & Individual Therapy in Seattle, Washington
Life moves through seasons; some are heavy, and some are full of change. If you’ve been running on empty, whether in your relationship or within yourself, it might be time to slow down. I help couples and men work through burnout, people-pleasing, vulnerability, and disconnection so they can rediscover themselves.
Hi, I’m Karsten,
My work focuses on supporting couples who are navigating marital conflict, new parenting concerns, premarital discussions, or communication breakdowns. I also enjoy supporting men struggling with burnout, anxiety, fatherhood, and unmanageable stress. If what you read here sounds familiar to your experience, I invite you to reach out so we can see if working together feels right for you.
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When I work with couples, I tailor my approach to the needs of the relationship and each individual within the system. I work to understand the cycles and “dances” that might be adding stress to your relationship/experiences. We will navigate and make sense of your pain, trauma, attachment styles, conflict patterns, and communication breakdowns. Through thoughtful exploration, I will challenge you to strengthen your foundation of trust, stability, and safety with one another and within yourself. Only then can we begin developing and co-creating healthier patterns and cycles for your relationship.
I also keep the bigger picture in mind, your relationships, communities, and environment, so our work fits the life you’re actually living. Everything we do is aimed at helping you and your partner find clarity and authenticity that lasts.
The common thread is that therapy should feel useful and relevant to who you and your partner are—not a set of techniques that don’t fit your life.
If seeing the more technical modalities helps, I blend:
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
Narrative Therapy
Family Systems Therapy
Solution-focused-brief-therapy (SFBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Similar to how I work with couples, I tailor my approach to your needs. I work to understand the cycles and narratives that might be adding stress to your story and experiences. We will navigate and make sense of your pain, trauma, anxiety, attachment style, negative self-beliefs, emotions, and coping skills. Through thoughtful exploration, I will challenge you to rebuild a sense of trust, stability, and safety within yourself. Only then can we begin developing and co-creating healthier patterns and cycles for your life.
I also keep the bigger picture in mind, your relationships, communities, and environment, so our work fits the life you’re actually living. Everything we do is aimed at helping you and your partner find clarity and authenticity that lasts.
The common thread is that therapy should feel useful and relevant to who you are —not a set of techniques that don’t fit your life.
If seeing the more technical modalities helps, I blend:
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
Narrative Therapy
Family Systems Therapy
Solution-focused-brief-therapy (SFBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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I walk alongside couples, men, and emerging adults navigating meaningful seasons of growth and change:
Couples – Whether you’re preparing for marriage, working through conflict, or wanting to strengthen your connection, I help couples build trust, improve communication, and create a relationship that feels steady and fulfilling.
Men – Many men in there carry stress, anxiety, or unspoken struggles alone. I work with men facing life transitions, relationship challenges, sexual health concerns, or the pressure to “have it all together,” helping them find clarity, confidence, and balance.
Emerging Adults (17–29) – I support young adults stepping into independence, career transitions, and adult responsibilities, helping them manage stress, anxiety, identity questions, and the challenges of navigating relationships and life decisions.
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I’m originally from the Midwest, but Washington is home now. I studied psychology and neuroscience at Hope College, and I earned my M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Seattle Pacific University. I am an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in WA state. I am currently being supervised by Scott Edwards, PhD, LMFT.
I’ve worked in emergency shelters, schools, and community mental health centers, supporting individuals, couples, and families through challenges like marital conflict, behavioral issues in a child, anxiety, grief, new parenting, depression, societal pressures, and major life transitions.
I’ve also faced my own challenges and supported many others through theirs, so I know firsthand how chaotic, uncertain, and full of doubt this time in life can feel. I bring that understanding into a space where couples and men can feel supported and challenged as they navigate their own seasons of change.
Trainings Completed/Ongoing:
Developmental Model for Couples - Level 1 - In training (2026)
FASTB Parenting Training - Summer 2024
Narrative Therapy - Clinical Training - Summer 2024
Graduate-level training in Family Systems and Attachment Theory
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When I’m not working, I love being outdoors—hiking, running, cycling, lifting, or playing volleyball. I also enjoy spending time with loved ones (and dogs) and reading. These things keep me grounded, curious, and energized, and I bring that same balance and perspective into the therapy room.
The Mission
I believe change is a natural, ongoing process of life. One that shapes our bodies, minds, and the stories we tell about ourselves. In every moment, we are constantly adapting to biological, emotional, and relational shifts, whether we choose to or not. My mission is to support individuals and couples as they navigate these transitions, helping them make sense of the change rather than fear it.
As we move through these stages of transformation, I also understand our reality and truth as deeply personal experiences shaped by culture, relationships, lived history, and many other factors. I hope to honor each client’s unique emotional reality while exploring how personal narratives interact with larger social and relational systems. By examining and reshaping the stories you have formed through experience, power, environment, and language, we will loosen narratives that no longer serve you and strengthen those that build authenticity in every aspect of your life.
At the heart of my work is a practice rooted in curiosity and client autonomy. I aim to create a space where my clients can question their assumptions, reconnect with their values, and define themselves on their own terms. Rather than prescribing a single version of wellness, I try to support clients in developing self-defined paths toward emotional clarity and vulnerability with themselves and others.
Types of Therapy I offer
Couples Therapy
Maybe you’ve been arguing about the same things, or maybe there’s barely any arguing at all, just distance. You might feel more like roommates than partners, or wonder if you’re even on the same page about your future. Relational therapy is a space to slow down the cycle, learn how to really hear each other, and strengthen a connection.
Here are some of the concerns I often work with in couples therapy:
Communication breakdowns and frequent conflict
Feeling emotionally distant or disconnected
Struggles with intimacy or sexual closeness
Preparing for marriage or navigating premarital concerns
Adjusting to parenthood or other major life transitions
Rebuilding trust after betrayal or broken agreements
Balancing career, family, and relationship demands
Unspoken tension or unresolved resentments
Parenting concerns or new parent discussions
Individual Therapy
A lot of men carry stress quietly, the pressure to ‘have it all figured out, ’ but no safe place to talk about it. You might feel stuck, restless, or disconnected, even when things ‘look fine’ on the outside. Therapy doesn’t mean you’re weak. It’s a way to build resilience and a life that feels authentic, not just what’s expected of you.
Here are some of the concerns I often work with men on in therapy:
Anxiety, worry, or overthinking that feels hard to manage
Depression, burnout, or feeling weighed down emotionally
Low self-esteem, self-doubt, or struggles with confidence
Adjusting to life transitions like school, career, or parenthood
Trauma and the lasting impact of past experiences
Relationship stress or difficulty setting healthy boundaries
Athletes and the pressure to meet expectations/perform
Sexual health and porn addiction
Feeling disconnected, isolated, or alone
FAQ’s
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Yes. I am an in-network provider with Premera Blue Cross and LifeWise. I also accept some BCBS BlueCard Plans (this includes carriers such as Anthem).
For all other insurance plans, I am considered an out-of-network (OON) provider and can provide a superbill for you to submit directly to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. To confirm your out-of-network mental health benefits, I encourage you to call your insurance company.
Couples therapy is provided as a private-pay service, as insurance companies do not typically cover therapy focused on relationship issues. If you wish, I can provide a superbill for couples sessions that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
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I currently provide services via Telehealth and In-Person.
Telehealth sessions offered Monday - Friday
In-person sessions offered Monday - Friday in Fremont/Seattle
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My standard private pay fees are as follows:
Individual Therapy:
Intake Session (60 minutes): $200
Standard session (53-60 minutes): $175
Extended session (90 minutes): $225
Couples/Family Therapy
Intake Session (60 minutes): $250
Standard session (53-60 minutes): $235
Extended session (90 minutes): $300
I accept cash, Zelle, check, and major credit/debit cards for both individual and couples therapy. For individual therapy I can also accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. To make this process seamless, I securely save credit/debit cards, as well as HSA and FSA cards, on file and charge them after each session.
I accept insurance for individual therapy sessions. However, couples therapy is provided as a private-pay service, as insurance companies do not typically cover therapy focused on relationship issues. If you wish, I can provide a superbill for couples sessions that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
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There is a 48-hour cancelation and reschedule policy. If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please do so before the 48-hour window. Otherwise, I charge the full fee for late cancelations and no-shows.
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The first session is where we get to know each other and begin building a sense of trust. We will talk about what brings you to therapy, your goals, and what feels most important to you. There’s no pressure to share everything at once, this is your space, and we’ll move at your pace. I will also explain things like confidentiality and answer any questions you have.
