Rebekah Karel, LMSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Hello! I’m Rebekah. In my work as a school social worker I have had first-hand experience helping young people and their families. I enjoy working with children and teens ages 4 to 17 and cater my approach depending on the age of the child. Some of the children I work with have been through really difficult and painful traumas, others have experienced great loss. Some kids are struggling to express themselves or with regulating their emotions, and others are struggling with behavior challenges in school or at home. Because of my work in the schools I have unique expertise engaging with children with ADHD, anxiety, depression, self-harm behaviors, and other social-emotional concerns. I also enjoy working with children and teens with disabilities and spent several years working with individuals with developmental disabilities prior to my work in the schools.

A big part of my approach is connecting with each child I meet. Once we have a trusting relationship built, that is where the real fun begins! I like to help kids develop new skills to help navigate anything the world throws at them. I love the challenge of getting kids invested in their own progress and believe each child is capable of taking ownership of their own goals. In sessions I will identify the approach that will likely work best for your child. I also have a passion for helping overwhelmed, stressed, and lost parents find ways of reconnecting with their child. I often will incorporate caregivers into the treatment process as so much of the healing begins at home.

With younger children I will often use games, art, walks, play, worksheets, books, music, therapeutic storytelling, and a variety of other ways to help process what the child is going through. Therapeutic play helps the child express, regulate, and label their emotions in a child-centered way. Children don’t always have the words to express what they are going through and I work to help them put words to their experiences.

With teens I find that there can be a variety of ways to navigate the therapeutic relationship and I am intentional about seeing what each individual teen finds helpful. If they want to simply talk they have the freedom to do so, or we can use some of the above approaches to process. Most importantly, I want every adolescent I work with to feel that they are met with compassion, and given a safe and non-judgmental space to explore and figure out their concerns.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I want counseling to be a fun and enjoyable experience for your child. I want every child who walks through my door to look forward to coming back.

I think that you will find I am an authentic, warm person with a sense of humor and fun. I would be honored to walk alongside you!

If you would like to schedule an initial session with me, call 616-499-4711 or click the "Schedule With Rebekah" button below; I'd be happy to meet with you and help you explore next steps. 

Rebekah