Licensed clinical social worker recordCalifornia
Karena Franses, LCSW
California
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Addiction and Relationships
Continue with KarenaCredentials check
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in California
- LCSW, licence 18975
- NPI
- 1093320723
- Experience
- 28 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
These details come from information Karena supplied to BetterHelp. A licence can be checked with the social work board of the state that issued it, and an NPI with the national registry.
AAbout
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Motivational Interviewing
About Karena
Karena Franses is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in California with 28 years of practice. She works with people facing addiction, mood disorders such as bipolar and depression, anxiety and stress, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and issues around self-esteem and life changes. She also notes experience with LGBT concerns and a range of related problems including body image, caregiver stress, and communication difficulties.
Her work grew from many years in two main settings: a county hospital outpatient clinic and a private psychotherapy practice in San Francisco. At the hospital she supervised social work in a large HIV clinic and spent long stretches supporting patients through life-threatening illness, addiction, and trauma. In private practice she saw individuals and couples dealing with relationship struggles, eating and food-related issues, self-harm, and the ongoing effects of stigma and marginalization.
Her everyday style is practical and reflective. She uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find motivation for change and psychodynamic therapy to look at recurring patterns and early influences. Daily meditation and Buddhist practice inform her outlook and shape how she listens and responds in sessions.
Clients can expect straightforward conversation about what is causing the pain and specific steps to reduce distress. She emphasizes understanding the problems clearly before deciding on next steps. She has worked extensively with people affected by HIV/AIDS, hospice and end-of-life needs, and substance use concerns.
Her background includes long-term supervisory work in outpatient care and many years of private psychotherapy. Karena brings those two perspectives together to address both immediate problems and longer-standing patterns. If you want an LCSW in California with deep experience in addiction, grief, and relationship issues, she may be a reasonable person to consider.
BHow sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Motivational Interviewing is a practical, client-centered method that helps people clarify their reasons for change and build internal motivation. It is commonly used for substance use, behavior change, and when someone feels stuck about making different choices.Psychodynamic therapy looks at recurring patterns in relationships and feelings that came from earlier experiences. It helps bring those patterns into awareness so people can make different choices in relationships, intimacy, and self-image.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, concerns, and preferences and together decide which methods to emphasize. This is collaborative and may shift over time as needs change.
Session formats are not specified in the supplied biography, so confirm current online session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, or allow shorter check-ins when time is tight. It also lets people continue therapy while managing work, caregiving, or health constraints without committing extra hours to commuting.
CAreas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
28+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
DQuestions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with addictions, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and stress, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include body image, caregiver stress, eating issues, HIV/AIDS, and end-of-life concerns.
What kind of therapeutic approach does she use?
Her documented methods include Motivational Interviewing to support readiness for change and psychodynamic therapy to explore recurring patterns and early influences. She blends practical conversation with reflective exploration.
How much experience does she have?
She has 28 years of professional experience split between hospital outpatient work and private psychotherapy practice.
Is she a licensed clinician and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are accepted; check any local requirements for receiving services across borders.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To start, select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988. More crisis numbers