“This above all:  to thine own self be true.”  William Shakespeare, Hamlet 

About Me

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice, having received my master’s degree from the University of Texas.  I worked for Child Protective Services for 4 years, serving children and families where child abuse and/or neglect had occurred.  I worked in the investigative, foster care, and adoption systems.  While there, I began co-leading a Protective Parenting psychotherapy group for the parents in these families.

I have been a psychotherapist for 35 years, primarily in outpatient settings.  Up until the end of 2002, I practiced under my maiden name, (Mary) “Karen” Kern.  And though I have always gone by my middle name, “Karen”, informally, insurance companies have known me by my legal name, Mary Karen Hampton.  For 9 years I was a therapist with the DayGlo Family Treatment Program, which served children and families where child abuse and/or neglect had occurred.  I have also been a therapist for 6 years with an Employee Assistance Program.  I am experienced in Play therapy, Individual and Group therapy with children, adolescents, and adults, Couples and Marriage Counseling, and Family Therapy.

My CURRENT INTEREST lies in offering INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY to young adults, adults and seniors.   I am very experienced and comfortable working in the areas of: DEPRESSION, ANXIETY(video), LOSS, past child abuse, relationships, and parenting issues. 

Please feel free to call (512) 339-1694, text, or email me with questions or to set up a counseling appointment.

I have a passion for learning and have made it my life’s work to try to understand how best to help people feel good about themselves and about their relationships.  My goal is to help others heal and lead joyful, meaningful, and productive lives.  I attend numerous trainings and enjoy reading about cutting edge research in the field.  I use consultation and supervision on a regular basis.  I am dedicated to doing my own personal work both for myself, and for others, so that I might best be able to fully appreciate, understand, and be present with my clients.

I have given several presentations in the areas of treatment of child abuse and therapy with children and adolescents.  I have been a guest lecturer for two graduate level counseling classes on Group Therapy with children and adolescents. 

I have received advanced training in a number of areas of   specialization including: 

  • Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
  • Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Accelerated Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

I have supervised numerous Bachelor and Master’s Level Counseling and Social Work students.

I have served on the Boards of:

  • Austin Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (ASPP)
  • Texas Society for Clinical Social Work

I am currently an active member of:

  • Austin IN Connection, an organization whose members “are brought together by a shared interest in further understanding and applying attachment theory and concepts from interpersonal neurobiology to promote healthy relationships”.  www.austininconnection.org
  • Austin Psychoanalytic, a society which seeks to “strengthen and broaden the professional practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy”. www.austinpsychoanalytic.org

If you’d like additional information, to discuss your particular situation to see if we’d be a good fit, or to set up a counseling appointment, please feel free to call (512) 339-1694, text, or email me.  I look forward to hearing from you.