Hi, I’m Karin. I have 30 years of experience as an expressive arts psychotherapist, psychologist, and healing artist.
I’ve loved helping other people creatively with their feelings and relationships since I was six years old and set up shop under a chestnut tree in the Frederiksberg Gardens in Copenhagen. I envision a world where everyone remembers how to heal themselves and their relationships with others through their own, natural creativity.
For the past 30 years, I’ve helped hundreds of creative and sensitive people like you get through their insecurity, stress, shame, anxiety, trauma, depression, chaotic emotions, conflicts, and low self-esteem. My clients and students tell me that I’m especially good at seeing people and sensing what they need.
I work creatively, intuitively, holistically, and in-depth. I include body, mind, and spirit in my work because I don’t believe superficial or partial solutions work. I don’t believe in formulas and rigid techniques either. I think therapy should fit you – not the other way around.
After a spiritual emergency at age 19, I myself struggled with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and health challenges, including the trauma of toxic medication and withdrawal. I’ve studied, learned, been to therapy, meditated, and worked with art for many years. I’ve learned how to be more of myself in my own life.
Most importantly, I’ve seen what helps in therapy – and what doesn’t. My own creativity has been the key to healing myself and teaching others how to heal themselves.
Hi, I’m Karin, and I have 28 years of experience as an expressive arts psychotherapist, family therapist, and psychologist.
Ever since I was six years old and set up shop under a chestnut tree in Frederiksberg Gardens in Copenhagen I have loved to help other people with their feelings, health, and relationships.
For the past 28 years, I have helped hundreds of people get through their insecurity, stress, shame, anxiety, trauma, depression, chaotic emotions, conflicts, and low self-esteem.
I work creatively, intuitively, holistically, and in-depth. I include body, mind, and spirit in my work because I don’t believe superficial or partial solutions work. I don’t believe in formulas and rigid techniques either. I think therapy should fit you – not the other way around.
In the past, I myself have fought and struggled with trauma, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and health challenges, including toxic medication and withdrawal. I’ve studied, learned, been to therapy, meditated, and worked with art for many years. I’ve learned how to be in my own life and more fully be who I am.
Most importantly, I’ve seen what helps in therapy – and what doesn’t. My own creativity has been the key to healing myself and teaching others how to heal themselves.
I’m motivated by my desire to help you find a way to a life you feel at home in.
I think the world needs what you have to offer when you are being yourself.
I work empathically and intuitively, so you feel seen, met, and safe. I also think analytically and precisely. Together we can find the core of your issues so you can see and feel results quickly.
I’ve offered group therapy to people with AIDS and psychiatric diagnoses. I have also worked with innovation, creativity, and conflicts for leaders and employees in the public and private sectors. I’ve been a school counselor in tough neighborhoods. And I’ve trained other therapists for the past 13 years.
I love being a therapist and feel that it’s a calling, a privilege, and a huge responsibility.
I’ve had a private practice with people from all over the world and many cultures in Seattle and San Francisco, and for 13 years in Copenhagen and online.
My training includes studies in Denmark, India, and mostly California, where the graduation and licensing requirements and among the world’s toughest when it comes to personal therapy, supervision, and 3000 hours of clinical work with various groups. My education has been recognized by the Danish Supervisory Board as corresponding to a candidate degree in psychology in Denmark.
My credentials:
- Authorized clinical psychologist (Denmark)
- Psychotherapist MPF (Denmark)
- Registered Expressive Arts Therapist, REAT (IEATA)
- Previously examined and licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist (CA, USA)
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology from CIIS in San Francisco (USA)
- B.A. in communication (RUC, Denmark) and the history of religion (KU, Denmark).
- Certified Trauma-Sensitive Heart Math Practitioner
- NLP Master Practitioner
You can read more in the list above and to the right if you’d like to know more about my background and training.
Many years of academic studies and developing my own methods has given me a strong theoretical foundation that helps me navigate the issues you bring to therapy.
I draw on five psychotherapeutic and psychological trainings and certifications and 30 years of experience to choose the best approaches to help with the issues you struggle with.
I’m always studying natural, holistic healing and European shamanism as well as new neuropsychological research. I combine these tools to meet you with ancient nature-based ways as well as scientific and research-based ones. I work with my own, creative and integrated method, based on Expressive Arts Therapy, Heart Math, EMDR, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, inner child work and hypnotherapy/NLP. My foundation is in expressive arts therapy, which is based on the idea that our strongest resource is our imagination, and that thoughts, stories, emotions, traumas, and behavioral patterns can be expressed and transformed through making art. This can happen through drawing, dancing, playing, singing, or writing.
I came up with Creative Mindfulness in 2004 and it’s been co-developed and published in several internationally published and recognized books on art therapy.
In my cozy private practice in Copenhagen, I see both children, adults, couples, families, and groups.
Do you live far away or just prefer to stay home? I offer both therapy, supervision, and online courses on my secure, high-quality online platform.
My own background is international and I speak fluent English and Danish. I also work well in all the other Scandinavian languages and understand German and French.
I value empathy, safety, authenticity, diversity, and inclusion, and strive to uphold the highest ethical standards in my practice.
Education and training
- Courses by Claire Zammit and Jean Houston in Influencer’s Masterclass from 2015-2020.
- Studies with Dr. Kelly Brogan in Holistic Psychiatry from 2015-2017.
- Ongoing courses and coaching with Katherine Woodward Thomas and Claire Zammit from 2012 to 2016.
- Courses in Feminine Power from 2012 to 2020
- Authorized by the Psychology Board August 2013. Supervised by Maja Ulrich and Anne-Marie Harnum in clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
- Basic education in Thought Field Therapy at TFT Denmark, 2011.
- Psychotherapist MPF, member of the Danish Psychotherapist Association, 2009.
- Approved as a psychologist by the Board of Psychologists, 2008.
- Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) at the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, 2006.
- State Licensed and Examined Marriage and Family Therapist, State of California, including 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience with individual clients, couples, families, both children and adults, active license from 2005 – 2014.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR Training Level 1, 2003.
- A. in Counseling Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy, 3 years full-time study at the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California, 2002.
- 1 year training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, New Perspectives Center for Counseling, 2002.
- 1 year full-time practical and clinical psychotherapist training at the New Perspectives Center for Counseling, 2002. Including training in Ericksonian hypnosis, transpersonal and psychodynamic therapy.
- European Graduate School, ISIS, Summer Semester in Expressive Arts Therapy, 2001.
- Osho Energy Reading Training, Osho International Commune, Pune, India, 1996.
- NLP Master Practitioner, Danish NLP Institute, Copenhagen, 1994.
Experience
- Development of the HEAL-keys, an online program in natural creativity and self-healing in 2020.
- Created the trauma healing program KIT in 2020.
- Collaboration with The Art of Transformation as an expert at performances in 2019 -2020.
- Chair of the ethics committee of the Association for Integrative Art Therapy from 2018.
- Vice-Chair of the Association for Integrative Art Therapy 2016-2018.
- External lecturer in art therapy and psychiatry 2016-2019 at UCSJ, Næstved.
- Supervisor on project EAT with eating disorders and art Askovhus 2014-15.
- Teacher of Art Therapy at the Danish Art Therapy Institute from 2007 in art therapeutic approaches to father-daughter dynamics, developmental psychology, group processes, and trauma healing.
- Over 25,000 hours of clinical and teaching experience with children, adults, couples, families, groups and organizations in private and public settings. In private practice since 2005.
- 30 years of personal therapy and development, courses and training in Psychoanalysis v. Nina Thymark, Authentic Movement and Jungian Analysis by Dr. Tina Stromsted, Gestalt Therapy, Transaction Analysis, Corrective Reparenting, Hypnosis and body therapeutic and neuroaffective approaches, among others with Joan Casey, MSW and Søren Brylle.
- Supervision by Kate Donohue, Ph.D. weekly for five years. In addition supervision by Delfina Piretti, Michael Baugh and Sue Martin. Supervision of work with children at Pyramid Alternatives by Bernie Carter.
- Developer of the Creative Mindfulness method with Lori Schwanbeck.
- Co-founder and partner of Mindfulness Therapy Associates in San Francisco. Member of DBT team for 1 year.
- Co-founder of the treatment community Nyt Anastasis in Frederiksberg.
- Leading group therapist for the Monday Night Big Group of the Seattle Friends for Life Society (for people with life-challenging illnesses) 1998-2001.
Art and Spirituality
- Idea, development, speak and harp at Meditation for the Creative Soul with composer Asger von Daler.
- Active with visual art i.a. with studies at Arbejdernes Kunstforenings Maleskole and plays in Calon Harpe Ensemble v. Helen Davies Mikkelborg.
- Singer in the group Hel, modern Nordic folk music with Julia Woxberg e.a. 2007-2009.
- Singer with Devaa Haley Mitchell from the Shift Network in the band Shaktipat from 2003 to 2007. Choir on the CD Sacred Alchemy.
- Performance with Heads up Gorgeous et al. in Seattle and San Francisco from 1996 to 2006.
- Danced at Scandinavian Ballet School, Dance Factory, Rhythm and Motion and learned Five Rhythms directly from Gabrielle Roth.
- Practiced yoga for over 30 years.
- Daily spiritual practice of meditation since 1990.
Teaching and speaking
- Institut for Kunstterapi, Gadbjerg
- Ergoterapeutuddannelsen på UCSJ
- Foreningen af Kunstterapeuter, DK
- Ergoterapeutforeningen, DK
- Power of Creativity Telesummit
- Iluliaq in Nuuk, Greenland
- FTF, København
- Senter for Kreativt Udtryk, Norway
- Musikterapeuternes Landsklub, DK
- California Institute of Integral Studies, USA
- New Perspectives Center for Counseling, USA
- Naropa University, Colorado, USA
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, USA
- International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, USA
- Psykoterapeutisk Uddannelses Center, København
- Creative Arts Therapies Symposium, USA
Approaches
Creative Mindfulness.
This method helps you to be able to identify, balance and express your chaotic or overwhelming emotions and stop the constant crises in your life.
You learn to handle conflicts and set boundaries – and maintain your self-esteem. You also learn to calm yourself when you are stressed and anxious.
We use simple, creative exercises that go deeper than words can, and help you use all your resources on a daily basis.
Expressive Art Therapeutic Integral Trauma Healing.
Helps you heal the wounds of the past and find peace in yourself – and the strength to move forward in a whole new way.
You get tools to get out of the constant state of stress you are in.
We do it through movement and creative expression and build it on modern knowledge of the human nervous system.
The art of healing yourself.
A creative and spiritual course, for people who are ready for radical change.
You get a set of feminine healing rituals designed for you and a personal map to create concrete results for yourself – in relation to others, with your health and your work. You learn to be your own best healer and therapist.
Why work with creativity?
Should I be able to paint and draw?
No, you do not have to be good at drawing or painting (or singing, dancing… etc.). On the contrary.
You may have experienced that when you are doing something creative – writing, cooking or listening to music – you begin to feel alive, happy and inspired. As you grasp your natural creativity, you begin to feel that you can create more of the life you desire. You feel like being you and listening to yourself.
I also work with:
- Expressive Arts Therapy
- Authentic Movement
- Hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness
- Play Therapy
- Jungian psychology / depth psychology
- Psychodynamic therapy
- EMDR
- EFT (TFT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy DAT / DBT
- Somatic Healing (Sue Martin)
- NLP
- Osho Energy Healing
The approaches I have developed myself are all built on these methods and integrate them into a creative whole.