Karl Nielsen

“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15) — Does this sound like you? Do you find different parts of yourself at war with one other? Does a part of you go to anger or addiction when feeling overwhelmed? While another part of you is struggling with anxiety or stuck in depression? Maybe another part criticizes you or shames you for not being “good enough”? If so, counseling can help. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and specialize in men’s issues, complex trauma, grief and loss, church hurt, and relationship issues (such as marital problems and family scapegoating or estrangement). I received my Bachelor of Arts in History from Seattle Pacific University and both my Master of Theology and Master of Arts in Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary. I enjoy working with adolescents*, adults, couples, and families.

My path to becoming a therapist has always been rooted in a lifelong passion to help others. Growing up, my father served as a physician in the U.S. Army and taught me the importance of service as I spent time volunteering in the Boy Scouts of America (eventually becoming a third-generation Eagle Scout) and various churches, ministries, and non-profit organizations over the years. Having grown up in a military family, I was faced with the unique challenges of frequent deployments and moving between Texas and Germany before finally settling in Washington state where I spent the majority of my childhood and was fortunate enough to experience the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. As I completed my college and seminary education and after experiencing many personal losses and difficulties of my own, I began to realize the incredible value of counseling. With inspiration from my father’s military and medical career and my own interest in psychology, I returned to seminary and became a licensed therapist.

My approach to therapy is primarily informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS, also known as “parts work”), an evidence-based model that views people as having a core, true Self and parts called Exiles and Protectors. Exiles are those parts of ourselves burdened by negative self-beliefs — usually as a result of childhood traumas or attachment injuries — while Protectors are those parts of ourselves attempting to cope with the emotional pain of these adverse experiences. When our Exiled and Protector parts lead our lives, we diminish our ability to truly get to know, love, and accept our true Self which is not a part, but rather the undamaged essence of who we are, or from a Christian perspective — the Image of God within each of us. In time, you can learn to engage with and heal your various parts within the context of a safe, compassionate, and accepting therapeutic relationship. IFS provides a framework and language that helps us move from having warring internal parts to living at peace with ourselves — and with peace in Christ. I recommend reading the following books to familiarize yourself with IFS, including Altogether You by Jenna Riemersma, LPC (primarily for a faith-based/Christian perspective) and No Bad Parts (primarily for individuals) or You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For (primarily for couples) both by Dr. Richard Schwartz, PhD, creator of IFS. I also take an eclectic approach by integrating other models such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Although you do not have to be a Christian if you are interested in beginning counseling with me, I do offer faith-based/Christian counseling — whether you are Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant — by integrating a biblical worldview in therapy while respecting your particular faith tradition, religious beliefs, personal values, and cultural background. Together, we can work to reconcile those wounded parts of ourselves with our identity in Christ so we may see ourselves as God sees us and learn to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31). With self-compassion and self-acceptance you can live a life characterized by the fruit of the Spirit with more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). I consider it an honor and a privilege to be a part of every unique client's journey of healing, change, and growth and invite you to reach out if you would like to begin that process with me today.

I have been married to my beautiful wife, Evan, since 2022 and together we have our beloved black cat, Harvey. We love going on road trips and spending time outdoors — camping, hiking, biking, skiing, swimming, and visiting national and state parks around the country. I am a coffee enthusiast and enjoy watching movies, playing a fun video or board game, and reading books on psychology, theology, and history along with the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

*Please be aware that if you are currently undergoing a divorce and wish to have your child begin therapy, the divorce process will need to be completed and finalized beforehand.

“There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all the evil spirits on earth and in the air. When peace dwells in a man’s heart it enables him to contemplate the grace of the Holy Spirit from within. He who dwells in peace collects spiritual gifts as it were with a scoop, and he sheds the light of knowledge on others. All our thoughts, all our desires, all our efforts, and all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: ‘O Lord, give us peace!’ When a man lives in peace, God reveals mysteries to him.” — St. Seraphim of Sarov

“Where there’s life there’s hope.” — Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings

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