Who Am I?

Hello! I’m Karen Petroski, (she/her/hers), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (PA) who is passionate about helping middle-aged and older adults find ways to cope with and navigate through difficult life changes, such as chronic medical issues, the demands of caregiving, or having to consider end-of-life decisions for themselves or their loved ones.

I love working with middle aged and older adults who:

• Have noticed it’s getting harder to cope with the effects of their chronic illness

• Were recently diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness

• Are reeling from the changes that their life will have to endure

• Are having difficulty coping with their loved ones’ diagnoses (individuals or couples)

• Are taking care of their aging parents, and need support

• Are encountering end-of-life decisions for themselves, their partners, or their parents

How I Help

It’s important to me that people know that they have a place to be heard and understood - that your current journey is not one that will be walked alone; we will walk it together. You are in control of what you choose to discuss in therapy, what you choose to work on or through, that might help you to make the changes you hope for, so you can feel better and experience a clearer, more optimistic outlook on life.

Making changes in your life can be scary, but consider - change is as much about altering or shifting your perspective on your circumstances as it is about changing your behavior. Sometimes we get “stuck” in how we view a situation or how we’re trying to improve it. This can be frustrating, and it can start to feel hopeless over time. Throughout our work together, we can look at these areas of “stuckness” and, as we explore them, you can decide what might help you to feel better and what you can alter, so that we can work collaboratively to reach your goals.

Please remember that having mixed emotions as you start your therapy journey - such as feeling nervous yet hopeful, scared yet motivated, maybe even a little excited - is how most people come into therapy. These feelings and more are a natural part of the change process. My role is to help you sort out and address the fear, the anxiety, the pain - in whatever “stuck” form it’s taken, while also encouraging you to move towards your desired changes, so that your overall emotional health has an opportunity to improve.

What it’s like in a session with me

Changing your life is hard - it’s part of being human. It’s especially hard when you’re starting therapy, revealing your innermost thoughts and feelings to a new person. To make things easier, I don’t expect anyone to share everything all at once. Often, revealing our feelings to someone makes everything seem much bigger and more real. We will go at your own pace, sharing a bit at a time, so that you don’t feel so overwhelmed that you want to quit. You deserve an opportunity to receive the help you’re wanting to receive. I will work with you at a pace that fits your needs and feels manageable to you.

As we get to know each other, I'll listen closely and might ask you to explain things more clearly. Sometimes, what you say and your body language don't match up, so I might ask you about that too. You can also expect me to give you feedback during our sessions. I might offer a different way of looking at things, which can help you reach your goals and make the changes you want to make. I'll always be direct but kind when I share this feedback with you.

More about me

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and my cats. I love to read, garden, and look for beach glass at Presque Isle. You’ll often find me bike riding or taking in local plays, musicals, and concerts!

“It’s the journey, and not the arrival, that matters most.”

-T.S. Eliot