Karen Hall, PhD
I am a Clinical Psychologist (License #16803) with a private practice in the Carmel Valley/Del Mar area of San Diego. I offer both telehealth counseling across California and in-person sessions with my office centrally located in the beautiful Hacienda Building.
I love my work and feel honored to support clients in times of crisis. I am known for my compassionate, approachable and warm style. In my clinical work of over 20 years, I draw on evidence-based therapy methods such as Mind-Body Tools, Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Strategies, Mindfulness and Gottman Method for Healthy Relationships to help relieve distressing symptoms, find strengths, improve the quality of your relationships and increase coping.
Education, Training and Clinical Work
I received my Bachelor’s Degree from UCLA and Masters and Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. After completing my doctoral research focused on psychological testing, I accepted an APA post-doctoral internship with the Navy and spent my first six years as a psychologist on active duty. It was an exciting and challenging time working with aviators, submariners, enlisted and their families. I developed specialties in Fitness-for-Duty Psychological Evaluations, Women’s Issues/supporting women working in a male-dominated industries, PTSD and Anxiety Disorders.
In hopes of starting my family, I left the Navy and began working for the VA and Department of Defense. Unexpectedly, I experienced my own fertility struggles sparking my interest and deep personal understanding of the psychological impact of infertility. After the joyous birth of my second child in 2004, while working with the VA and DOD, I opened my private practice focusing on assisting women, men and couples coping with all dimensions of fertility struggles and family building.
It was at this time that I completed training with the groundbreaking Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard and, in addition to my practice, began consulting at Scripps Center for Executive Health. I taught progressive relaxation, breathing, guided imagery, mindfulness meditation and completed quality of life consultations to executives as part of a comprehensive, one-day whole person exam.
At this time, I also sought consultation and advanced training with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). I served as the Educational Resources Committee Chair for the Mental Health Professional Group of ASRM and have presented at numerous ASRM and other professional conferences on “The Trauma of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: Helping Our Patients and Surrogates Heal”, “The Care and Evaluation of Donors and Surrogates”, “Women in Tech: Identifying the Obstacles, Managing the Stress”, “Telehealth in Reproductive Medicine” and “Grief, Loss and Alternative Family Building", and many more.
I strongly believe in the power of education to improve patient care. I regularly speak at local fertility clinics and hospitals to staff and residents on the psychological impact of infertility and optimal psychological care of fertility patients.
I have the experience and training to help you manage the stress of fertility
and family building struggles, find balance, meaning and regain a sense of control.
Get the specialized support you deserve. If you are interested in individual or couples support, please reach out to book a complimentary 15 minute phone call today.
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