Karen is the author of "The Co-Parents' Handbook: Raising Well-Adjusted, Resilient and Resourceful Kids in a Two-Home Family from Little Ones to Young Adults" an Amazon BEST SELLER and "The Parenting Plan Handbook: Four Coaching Seminars Devoted to Building a Strong, Child-Centered Parenting Plan.” She is a sought-after presenter on topics related to divorce and co-parent coaching, as well as advanced communication skills.
Karen has over 30 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families facing transition, loss, stress and change. Her private practice is dedicated to working with couples across the spectrum from pre-marital preparation, strengthening partnerships, navigating divorce and parenting plan development, co-parenting in two homes to remarriage and launching successful stepfamily. As a Divorce and Co-Parent Coach, Karen has dedicated her work to thoughtfully resolving conflicts one person, one couple and one family at a time.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Karen has been Board certified and licensed as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner since 1982. She served on the faculty of University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University & Seattle Pacific University before beginning full-time private practice in 1984.
Karen played an instrumental role in developing the year-long facilitator training program for the Compassionate Listening Project. As a certified Compassionate Listening trainer, Karen utilizes this heart-centered approach to authentic speaking and capable listening used around the world in high-conflict situations such as Israel/Palestine.
Karen lives in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains outside Seattle. She values the lessons learned in the “school of hard knocks” in her experience of creating a two-home family before divorce coaching existed. Her two adult children are her every-day inspiration for the beauty of love, forgiveness, and trust in the capacity of family in all its forms.
