Empowering Adolescents and Teens to Move from Struggling to Strength- Karin Schober, LPC-S
With a heart for kids approaching the middle and high school years, Karin has had enough experience to know that kids, and their parents, are searching for answers and support. Ultimately, kids are looking for independence and autonomy, and Karin considers it a joy to help parents and kids navigate that stage.
Karin Schober’s path to Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor is not a straight shot from point A to point B, but it does flow with logic and purpose. Karin began her professional life as an educator and fell in love with kids from hard places while teaching in a juvenile detention center. Cognizant of the challenges these youth experienced at home and in their communities, Karin desired to help in a different capacity. With the goal of working with children and teens who had challenging times, Karin first became a school counselor, then a Licensed Professional Counselor, and eventually entered private practice. As a former foster parent to many kids, Karin holds a unique perspective that encompasses both professional practices and real-life challenges that are not always solved by a textbook answer.
It is no surprise, then, that Karin values opportunities to work with teens outside the traditional therapy setting. With 10 acres of privately owned pasture available, Karin utilizes the environment to lower the defensive "walls" that naturally go up for adolescents. Karin can often be seen in the pasture with clients of all ages, using the trails or going on a “pig hunt” to build strengths and problem-solving skills. She has been seen throwing footballs back and forth with kids as they process hard things. For the teen who may feel shy, nervous, or defensive, moving beyond the walls of her indoor office removes the pressure of direct eye contact, allowing them to open up naturally.
How does Karin help work towards change with the adolescents? Karin often utilizes a high-impact modality called Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, designed to provide relief without years of “talk therapy”. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy focuses on where your adolescent wants to go, not just where they’ve been. By identifying strengths and "what works," Karin helps adolescents gain traction and pride in doing the hard things. She also seeks to have teens own their growth by empowering them from the start with the question “What would YOU like to be better in life?”. This invites participation not only from the parent but also from the teen.
Despite the credentials Karin holds and the experience she has gained, Karin will be the first to tell parents that they are the experts on their child. Karin welcomes and embraces a partnership with parents, which is viewed as equally important to the relationship with their child. When working with older youth, Karin understands that the preteen and teen years are a transition for both the youth and the parents: the youth is attempting to navigate independence, and the parent is attempting to allow more independence while parenting.
Success for Karin isn't just a matter of a clinical checklist. It’s the moment a teen finds their voice again. It’s the transition from silence at home back to a connected, resilient family relationship. She often ends each session with the question, “What was most helpful from our time today?” and, with each response, finds the beauty in each unique journey she has the honor of partnering with.
If you are ready to see your child move from "struggling" to owning their growth in a private, nature-based setting, Karin is currently accepting new adolescent and pre-teen clients.
