About

Meet Kara

Hi! My name is Kara (pronounced Car-Uh). I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in San Diego, CA with 10+ years of experience in working with individuals and families who are suffering from anxiety, depression, developmental and shock trauma, family conflict and more. I’ve worked in community mental health settings, in foster care/adoption agencies, and in intensive mental health programs for adolescents and adults. I love this work!

Before I am a therapist, I am a human, with my own “stuff,” my own life experiences and my own stories of disconnection, recovery and resilience. I often joke that I am a “reluctant therapist”—I didn’t expect to go this route and acknowledge that I am just as human as my clients. I believe I can only take clients as deep as I have gone myself, and I am deeply committed to my own ongoing healing and support. I have pursued these approaches because I have seen significant change in my own life from them—specifically Somatic Experiencing. And, because I have lived it myself, I trust the therapeutic process—I know so well that we can move from our most debilitating symptoms to a life of connection and ease.

From my personal and professional experience, I’ve learned that you are the expert on you, and you already have within yourself resources for healing. I have a few letters behind my name, but more than anything, I see myself as a guide and a witness as you explore parts of yourself that need support, connection and healing. I want to demystify the therapy process, avoid the harsh labels we often use to diagnose, and just provide you with the support you need as you figure out and have compassion for your own humanity.

On a more personal note, some things I enjoy: gardening, backpacking, anything in/on/near the water, solo travel, Dr. Pepper, my dog Lola and my cat Rumi, new hobbies, reading, and more. You’ll see little bits and pieces of these in my office or in conversation, and I’m always happy to share more!

Contact Kara directly at 858-256-6205 or by email at kara@karakimball-lcsw.com

Experience, Training and Specialties

  • -Needing support in managing overwhelming experiences of anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder in daily life

    -Suffering from unresolved traumatic experiences in childhood and/or adulthood that are impacting functioning and relationships

    -Feeling “fragmented” in their sense of self and struggling to manage related feelings or sensations of intensity, overwhelm, or despair

    -Hoping to repair painful or conflict-filled parent/child relationships, especially for adult children

    -Struggling with effectively setting and holding boundaries in interpersonal relationships

    -Stuck in unhelpful patterns of conflict or emotional reactivity

    -Wanting a life that feels good—full of connection, self-trust, enjoyment and ease

  • -Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and other mood disorders

    -Developmental Trauma (Early Childhood Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences) and Attachment

    -Traumatic experiences at various stages of life, including religious trauma

    -Complex or Non-Traditional Family Systems, including divorce, blended families, and adoption

    -Grief and Loss

  • -Somatic Experiencing for Trauma Resolution

    -Severe Mood Disorders: 5+ years of experience working with individuals and families experiencing moderate to severe, acute and chronic, anxiety and depression, including obsessive-compulsive behaviors, self-harm and suicidal ideation

    -Developmental Trauma and Attachment: 10+ years of experience working with children and adults who have experienced complex childhood trauma, impacting attachment and current relationships

    -Positive Parenting/Positive Discipline approach to working with and training families

    -Trained in/Informed by: Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF), Parts Work, Positive Parenting, Attachment, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)

  • -Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, 88023, 2019 (Licensed to provide mental health services in the state of California)

    -Masters of Social Work (MSW), San Diego, State University, 2016

    -Bachelors in Sociology, Double Minor in History and Theology, University of San Diego, 2010

    Certifications:

    -Somatic Attachment Therapy through The Embody Lab (2023)

    -Positive Discipline Practitioner (2020)

    -Currently completing Somatic Experiencing Practitioner certification (Advanced Level, expected completion September 2024)