About
Howdy, I’m !
I’m a Marriage and Family Therapy student in Los Angeles, using my background in design and mental health to create accessible and inclusive therapeutic interventions. I focus on developing resources that meet the needs of multicultural children and caregivers.Currently, I’m involved in research on racial socialization, ethics in therapist training, and play-informed approaches to family support, with a special interest in equity and women’s empowerment.
Professional Values
- Inclusivity: Ensuring access and equity for all individuals.
- Human-Centered Design:
Designing solutions focused on people’s needs. - Empowerment through Education:
Enhancing skills for personal and social growth. - Research and Evidence-Based Practice:
Applying scientific methods to improve interventions. - Innovation and Creativity:
Fostering novel solutions through creative thinking. - Community and Collaboration:
Building partnerships to strengthen community impact.
Education
Degrees
- M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, Alliant International University (Expected 2026): Currently pursuing a master’s degree focused on developing therapeutic practices for families.
- First-level Master’s in Design for Kids and Toys, POLI.Design (2022-2023): Specialized in creating educational and product service systems for children, integrating design principles with child development.
- B.F.A. in Graphic Design, School of Visual Arts (2012-2016): Focused on visual communication and design fundamentals, with projects spanning various media and applications.
Current Engagement
PLAY WITH KIP
My initial career in design, brought on by a passion for the arts, eventually evolved into creating more meaningful interactions through PLAY WITH KIP, a platform I developed to support social-emotional learning among young families. This initiative merges my design skills with my interest in facilitating personal growth, offering engaging content that encourages self-discovery and emotional resilience.
What Others Say
"Karen was unbelievable. She takes ownership of projects from start to finish, and approaches every step with professionalism, detail, and pride."
Joe Formica
Founder, Bitesize UX
"I came for the design tips but stayed for Karen’s unexpected insights into everything else. It’s been more helpful than she probably realizes."
Frida Terán
Student, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
"Her solutions were always unique and came from a totally different place than everyone else’s."
Gail Anderson
Principal, Anderson Newton Design