Karen Crawley-Buckholtz , MD, LCPC, LPC

Karen Crawley-Buckholtz is a licensed therapist based in Maryland with 20 years of professional experience working with a wide range of emotional and life challenges. She holds MD, LCPC, and LPC credentials - MD indicates a medical degree, and LCPC and LPC are licensed counseling credentials - and is licensed to practice in both Maryland and Virginia. Her work has emphasized grief and loss, stress and anxiety, depression, trauma, perinatal and postpartum concerns, relationship difficulties, hospice care, and issues related to illness and disability. She has experience serving culturally diverse populations, first responders, active duty military, and veterans.

Her practice addresses many common and complex concerns, including family and blended family issues, intimacy and communication problems, parenting challenges, eating and sleeping difficulties, ADHD, bipolar disorder, chronic pain and illness, caregiver stress, and aging and geriatric matters. She also works with people coping with career transitions, self-esteem struggles, trauma-related dissociation, and compassion fatigue. This breadth of focus reflects a commitment to meeting clients where they are and responding to the whole person rather than a single symptom.

Crawley-Buckholtz takes an adaptable, client-centered approach that draws on several evidence-informed methods such as cognitive behavioral strategies, dialectical behavior techniques, mindfulness, and psychodynamic perspectives. She emphasizes collaboration, helping people identify their strengths and develop practical tools to manage stressors and move toward their goals. She respects each person’s experience and cultural background, and she partners with clients to create individualized treatment plans that reflect their values and needs.

Recognizing that starting therapy can feel daunting, she encourages people to consider that seeking help is a courageous step. Her work focuses on building on existing strengths and supporting clients as they navigate change and healing.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Karen Crawley-Buckholtz draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to guide online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely and building a respectful, collaborative relationship so people can explore their own goals and values; it is helpful for relationship concerns, self-esteem, and life transitions. CBT teaches practical skills to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress by creating concrete strategies for coping. DBT offers skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, making it useful for intense emotions, relationship conflicts, and coping under pressure.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and she works together with clients to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. This collaborative stance means treatment can adapt over time as circumstances and priorities change, combining elements from different methods when that serves the client’s objectives.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexibility for people balancing work, family, medical needs, or mobility limitations. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide consistent support, maintain continuity of care, and tailor interaction styles to what feels most comfortable and effective for each person.