Karina Killough , LCMHC

Karina Killough is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) based in North Carolina who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, mood disorders, addictions, relationship and family concerns, and women's issues. She draws on decades of clinical experience to offer steady support when life feels overwhelming. Her approach is warm and straightforward, focused on helping people find practical ways to cope and move forward.

She practices in a way that centers the person in the room. Sessions aim to build trust, identify clear goals, and develop coping skills tailored to each situation. She commonly uses cognitive behavioral methods alongside client-centered listening and mindfulness tools to address patterns that keep people stuck.

Karina has worked in inpatient, intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings, and she brings that range of experience into weekly work with clients. Over 28 years she has supported people dealing with trauma, grief, bipolar and depressive conditions, panic and anxiety, and difficulties with self-esteem and body image.

In session she combines direct skill teaching with empathic reflection. That can mean learning new ways to handle anxiety, practicing emotion regulation, or changing unhelpful thoughts that lead to avoidance. She also supports people facing challenges around intimacy, codependency, and recovery from substance use.

Karina uses treatment planning to match methods to each person's needs and goals. She encourages small, achievable steps and checks progress along the way. To begin, a short intake and scheduling step helps match people to an appropriate plan.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful relationship. The therapist follows the client's pace, reflects concerns, and helps people feel heard while working toward agreed goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood management. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people identify and shift patterns in close relationships and work on intimacy-related issues and attachment concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. Together they will decide which methods to try first and adjust the plan as progress is tracked and needs change.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skills practice, phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be a shorter check-in, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between appointments. These options help fit therapy into busy schedules and different lifestyles.