Who Am I?

Hello! I’m Karen Petroski, (she/her/hers), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (PA). I am passionate about helping individuals and couples navigate the complex life changes that come with age, including managing chronic medical issues, the weight of caregiving for loved ones, or facing end-of-life decisions. I also enjoy working with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, or overall stress make their life more meaningful and have a greater understanding of themselves.

I love working with adults who:

• Are navigating relationship shifts - trying to find a new normal following a diagnosis, retirement, or other family change.

• Feel “stuck” in old patterns - noticing the same arguments or feelings of distance repeating in your relationship, and want to forge a new path to connection

• Are managing chronic or terminal illness - either you (or you and your partner together) are reeling from a diagnosis and need a space to process the fear and logistics

• Are in the “sandwich generation” - balancing your own life’s needs while caring for aging parents, needing a space to unload the heavy weight of caregiving

• Experience “stuck” grief - been carrying your loss for a long time, and are looking for a way to move forward in a way that honors your love for the lost person

• Are facing the horizon - encountering end-of-life decisions for yourself, your partner, or your parent, and want to approach these moments with intentionality and peace

How I Help

It’s important to me that you know you have a place to be heard and understood. Whether you come to see me individually or as a couple, we will walk this path together. In my practice, I focus on the "structure" of your relationships—the unspoken rules, roles, and boundaries we often fall into that can leave us feeling trapped. Nothing occurs in a vacuum - even if you’re coming in by yourself for individual work, we look at you as part of a larger whole. I will help you to explore the patterns in your family or social circle, how they impact your well-being, and how shifting your own role within those systems can create a ripple effect of change. By looking at how these pieces fit together, we can shift the foundation of your personal and relational life to something that feels more supportive and balanced.

Change is often about shifting your perspective as much as it is about changing your behavior. Sometimes we get "stuck" in a certain way of viewing a situation. Throughout our work, we’ll look at these areas of stuckness. We will work collaboratively to help you (and your partner) decide what can be altered so you can experience a clearer, more optimistic outlook on life.

What it’s like in a session with me

Revealing your innermost thoughts to a new person—or bringing your relationship struggles into the room—is a brave and difficult step. To make things easier, we go at your pace. I don’t expect you to share everything at once.

As we get to know each other, I’ll listen closely to both your words and the "vibe" in the room. In couples work, I pay attention to how you interact, gently pointing out patterns that might be hard to see when you're in the middle of them. You can expect me to be direct but kind, offering feedback and different ways of looking at your circumstances. My goal is to help you sort through the fear and pain so your emotional health and your relationships have the opportunity to thrive.

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