Karlson Therapy
For when you know better but don't do better.
ONLINE · BASED IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
You don't need more insight. You need something different to happen in the moment.
Maybe it's the same argument at home, just in different words each time. Maybe you go quiet when things get tense, or snap faster than you mean to. Or maybe life looks fine from the outside, but something in your relationships, or in your own head, isn't working.
You've probably already tried to fix it: talking it through, reading the books, pushing harder, promising to do better.
That's the work I do. Most of my clients are individuals, and I also see couples and families. Either way, I look at what's going on in the context of the relationships around you. Together we work out what actually happens in the moments that go wrong, and practice doing something different when it counts. I'm direct and practical, and our sessions won't go in circles.
Therapy is for individuals, couples and families in Minnesota, and expats living abroad. Coaching is for people anywhere in the US, and internationally, who want to work on a specific goal, decision or stuck point.
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Understanding the pattern hasn't been enough to change it?
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I'm David Karlson, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board-Approved LMFT Supervisor. I've worked in mental health since 2008 with individuals, couples and families, in community mental health, clinics, schools and online.
I've also served over 20 years in the military, including five deployments, and I've worked with many military families, foreign service officers and international educators. I know what it takes to hold things together under pressure, and what that can cost at home.
With individuals, I use Emotion-Focused CBT and attachment-focused, experiential work. With couples, I use Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method.
Meet your therapist
David's story & approach
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Most of my work is with individuals, often around what's happening in their relationships. I also work with couples, families and teens.
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I also valued and appreciated his straightforward approach and willingness to call attention to specific issues, even when they may have been uncomfortable. For example, I recall clearly the conversation we had... it was one of those "swallow hard" moments, but ultimately was a good example of the kind of realities I needed to frame more clearly for myself. I'm grateful for David guiding me toward them and calling attention to them
David was most effective in helping me reframe some of my perspectives on challenges I was facing.
I thought opening up to another person would feel uncomfortable, and I worried that my problems wouldn’t matter to someone else. Over time I felt more open and realized that talking about my problems actually helped me move forward. I’m now less harsh towards my own thoughts and feelings, and I was able to let go of a lot of guilt.
I had much progress when it comes to relationships, and I feel like I have more awareness of myself
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We have seen so much growth in [our son]. He has more confidence and is more willing to put himself out there. His ability to acknowledge and express his needs has been tremendous for him and our family. While he was hesitant to start therapy and struggled through sessions at times, there is no doubt by the end of their time together, he understood that therapy helped, and I dare say he even looked forward to it every week
Starting therapy with David was the absolute best decision we could have made for our son.
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David really helped me during a time when I was feeling lots of anxiety. I'm now much more equipped to understand and take care of my mental health. David was a great listener, empathetic, and did a great job of asking the right questions that got me to analyze so many parts of my life/thoughts
Our sessions laid the groundwork for skills/tools/understanding that I'll carry with me the rest of my life.
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Our sessions were really helpful for me to grow as a person and help me better understand myself and how to interact with my own emotions. The most helpful aspects from our sessions were 100% the tools that David either shared with me or we created together to match me specifically. I use them as my go-to for handling difficult situations and will continue to do so in the future
I can't thank David enough. his support and insights created a safe space for me to express how I was feeling and the things I was dealing with
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David’s skill in finding a common language with our son has been remarkable. It's noteworthy that he consistently left the sessions in good spirits even after challenging conversations. It is a testament to David’s skill in navigating difficult topics.
David’s support through the highs and lows has been spot on, creating a space where our son felt understood and empowered
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