Karin Van Ast, MA, LLC

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. 

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.