Kari Fager , LCSW

Kari Fager is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California who brings six years of clinical experience to her practice. She blends an empathic, strengths-based stance with an eclectic set of therapeutic tools to help people navigate trauma, depression, anxiety, chronic stress, and challenging life transitions. Kari is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and she integrates evidence-informed methods with a focus on each person’s unique strengths and values.

Her work often centers on stress management, self-esteem, grief, parenting concerns, and issues related to trauma and abuse, with additional attention to forgiveness, guilt and shame, veteran and armed forces issues, post-traumatic stress, and women’s concerns. She can adapt sessions to include faith-based counseling when that aligns with a person’s preferences and beliefs. Kari earned her Master’s in Social Work from Dominican University and has experience in both U.S. and international settings across clinical and community environments.

Outside of her clinical practice, Kari spends time with family outdoors and is often found encouraging her labradoodle, Norah, as she works toward becoming a therapy dog.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Kari uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and improve daily functioning. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a sequenced approach Kari is trained in that helps process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity, often used for trauma-related concerns. Trauma-Focused Therapy centers on understanding the impact of traumatic experiences and building practical coping skills while fostering resilience and recovery.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kari works collaboratively with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences and will tailor or combine methods to find the best fit for their situation. This collaborative planning helps ensure the work aligns with what the person hopes to achieve.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible options that fit different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or other convenient locations and support continuity of care when in-person visits are not possible.