Karin Van Ast

Karin Van Ast, MA, LLC

Therapist

Hello and kumusta! I am a child, adolescent, and family therapist and primarily work with children ages 7 to young adult and caregivers. I also speak Tagalog and Ilonggo! I have special expertise working with middle schoolers, adopted children, and individuals who speak English as a second language. I enjoy working with families from all different cultures as I myself am an immigrant from the Philippines. In the past I have taught English as a second language (ESL) with elementary and middle school children. I have a special passion for working with middle school students and helping them and their caregivers go through those unique pre-teen stages! Because of my experience working in the schools I have special expertise in helping children and young adults experiencing school-related issues.

Ages I work with

Children & Adolescents 5-18
Families

Languages

English
Tagalog
Ilonggo

Connecting with each person I work with and building a trusting relationship is super important to me! I recognize that every person I work with is unique and I am intentional about incorporating unique interests into sessions. I consider myself to be a creative person and use expressive interventions in sessions such as art, play, sand tray, creative writing, acting, or music. I want to help clients express such emotions in a way that makes sense to them and helps them feel understood. For young adults I often use a combination of the above interventions in addition to traditional talk therapy. I am happy to meet with young adults or families virtually if preferred.

I also have a passion for helping teens and their caregivers find ways of communicating together through those challenging teen years. I enjoy helping families find joy together and to create a sense of safety in relationships.

I also bring a unique understanding of world-religions to the counseling space and can provide faith-based approaches to families who value this aspect in healing. I work with families of all faith beliefs (or unbelief) and I personally identify as a Christian and am open to using this therapeutic lens if specifically asked for by the family or client.

Ultimately, I want counseling to be an enjoyable experience for you or your child or teen. I look forward to meeting with you and am grateful for your trust and partnership!