I’m Karen Clark, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor at The Banyan Tree Center in Athens, Georgia. With over 15 years of clinical experience, I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating addiction, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles. I see clients in person in Athens and via telehealth.

I’ve always been deeply curious about human resilience. How people survive what they survive, how they make meaning out of pain, and how they rebuild themselves in ways that are often quiet, private, and profoundly brave. That curiosity grew into a commitment of over 15 years of clinical work, most of those dedicated to addiction and recovery. I hold a Master’s degree from Liberty University and have been a Certified Addiction Counselor since 2017.

My own history with trauma and healing has shaped every part of how I show up in the therapy room. I know what it feels like to sit in the hard places. Healing taught me that it isn’t linear, that trust takes time, and that safety is something you feel, not something you’re told. Because of that, I work slowly, intentionally, and with deep respect for each person’s pace. I believe healing happens in relationship, with ourselves, with others, and within the community.

Outside the therapy room I’m inspired by nature, creativity, and the joy of human connection. I spend time with my children and grandchildren, cook, hike, and love music. These things remind me why this work matters.

“You are the greatest project you will ever work on.”

Background and Credentials

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), State of Georgia
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC II), since 2017
• Master’s degree, Liberty University
• Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1
• Prepare/Enrich certified (premarital counseling assessment program for couples preparing for marriage)
• IFS basic training
• DBT training
• Anger management training
• Group facilitation training
• 15+ years of clinical experience

How I Work

• In person · The Banyan Tree Center, Athens GA
• Telehealth available
• Teens and adults of all ages

Approaches: CBT · DBT · IFS informed · Motivational interviewing · Gottman couples therapy · EFT · Narrative therapy · Solution-focused · Trauma-informed · Mindfulness-based · Attachment theory

What I Specialize In

Substance Use and Process Addictions in Athens, GA

Who I work with: People dealing with addiction often come in afraid of being judged as a failure or a bad person. That fear makes them guarded. They’re usually carrying overwhelming shame, embarrassment, and self-blame. Many aren’t sure if they’re ready to change, because part of them wants to stop and part of them can’t imagine life without the one thing that has ever felt like it worked, even when it’s also destroying their life. More than anything, a person struggling with addiction needs to feel safe, seen, and heard before they can be fully honest with anyone, including themselves.

What we do together: Once they feel safe, most clients experience a wave of relief. They’ve been carrying their struggle alone and in hiding for a long time. That sense of safety opens the door to real, authentic work. I’m a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over 15 years of experience in addiction and recovery in Athens, Georgia, and I bring both professional training and deep human understanding to this work.

Couples Therapy and Premarital Counseling in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Couples coming in for therapy are usually exhausted. They describe being tired of fighting, tired of feeling alone in the relationship, and tired of going in circles. They feel hopeless, afraid of being blamed, and scared to be vulnerable. Most are confused about how they got here and anxious about what the future holds. I also work with couples who are preparing for marriage, whether that’s required for a marriage license or church requirement, or simply because they want to start their marriage on solid ground. Premarital counseling is one of the best investments a couple can make, and I’m Prepare/Enrich certified to guide that process.

What we do together: Many couples feel relief even in the first few sessions just knowing they don’t have to navigate this alone. We work on building emotional safety, reducing defensiveness, improving communication, and getting to the core wounds that keep getting triggered. Slowly, clarity returns and the emotional connection that feels lost starts to come back. There is a path back, and I’ve helped couples find it.

Grief and Loss in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Clients struggling with grief often come to their first session feeling overwhelmed, numb, or afraid of falling apart in front of someone new. Many carry loneliness, confusion about their emotions, and shame about how they’re coping. Others are exhausted from holding everything together. Even when hope feels small or fragile, most arrive wanting to feel less alone and wanting to know it’s safe to put down what they’ve been carrying.

What we do together: Grief work doesn’t begin with fixing. It begins with witnessing, honoring, and holding what you’ve been carrying. We start by building safety and slowing the pace so your nervous system can stay grounded. There is no timeline and no wrong way to grieve. I will stay with you through all of it.

A Few Things I Want You to Know

Before your first session: You don’t have to have anything figured out or know what to say. You can come in nervous, unsure, overwhelmed, or completely blank. Whatever you’re feeling is welcome. My space is calm, steady, and nonjudgmental, and you get to set the pace. My goal is to help you feel safe enough to be real.

Something I wish more people knew: You are the greatest project you will ever work on. Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s wrong with you. It’s about learning what’s happening in your mind, body, and emotions so you can understand yourself with more clarity and compassion. As you begin to recognize your patterns and the stories you’ve carried, you start to realize you have far more power than you ever knew.

Who I do my best work with: People who are ready to be honest, even when it’s hard. People who are willing to slow down and look at what’s really going on beneath the surface. I work with teens, adults, couples, and families across all backgrounds, and I show up fully for every one of them.