About Karla
Karla Lewis is a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing in Virginia. She brings ten years of experience helping people handle stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship concerns. She speaks plainly and meets people where they are.
She works with a wide range of concerns, including trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, sleep problems, ADHD, and issues tied to intimacy and LGBT identity. Additional focuses include blended family dynamics, commitment and communication problems, and concerns connected to kink and alternative sex culture.
Background and approach
Karla’s background includes work in inpatient psychiatric settings, emergency services, jails, and community treatment teams. She has also provided education to law enforcement on responding to mental health crises. Those experiences shape how she responds to stress and crisis in sessions.
Her style is warm, direct, and interactive. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, emotionally focused work, existential ideas, and a client-centered attitude. Conversations are tailored to each person’s needs rather than following a fixed script.
Clients can expect practical, down-to-earth guidance aimed at manageable changes. Karla focuses on small steps people can use between sessions to build better routines, cope with strong emotions, and improve communication. She emphasizes respect, dignity, and noticing progress along the way.
How these approaches work online and in session
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice thoughts and pick values-based actions, useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and changing behaviors to improve mood and daily functioning. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation so people can explore what matters to them and find their own solutions.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods, and adjust plans based on what feels most helpful. This collaborative process lets the person shape therapy around real needs and preferences.
Online sessions use video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video works well for deeper conversations that benefit from visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit quick updates, brief coaching, or when someone prefers writing over speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy days and to maintain consistent contact between appointments.
Questions people ask
What concerns does Karla commonly address?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What kind of experience does she bring?
What credentials and location are listed?
Which languages are supported for sessions?
What session formats are available?
How are fees and billing handled?
How do I begin working with her?
What this counselor works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Co-morbidity
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Parenting issues
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- Virginia
- Languages
- English