About Me

My name is Karen Withers. I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and grew up in Round Rock, Texas. I am a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s of Science degree and a Texas Lifetime Teaching Credential in Elementary and Middle School Education.  

Teaching and helping people learn about themselves and reach their highest potential is my passion. My early career was in retail management. My role as a district sales manager at a high-volume retailer involved teaching and coaching women. My mission was helping them rise to and meet their highest goals and potential. Leadership, teaching, communication, and mentoring are skills I developed during these years. I developed high performing teams who attained every one of their goals and earned many awards. 

I loved working with children as an elementary school teacher and as a children’s leader for Bible Study Fellowship. I developed my ability to communicate and draw the best out of these children. Helping them develop their own relationships with God was a beautiful outcome. Working with my clients, my desire is to point them back to God as their Maker,  Savior, and Healer. Ultimately God is our great Healer. Knowing Him, building a personal relationship with Him, and cooperating in the healing leads to the healing we are all seeking.

As a mother I was very involved with my children’s schools. Over the years, I have continued to be active in my community. I worked with my children’s schools in roles in PTA/PTSA, Site Based Representative for each school, Project Graduation, and Boundary Committees. I especially enjoyed my position as Chair for the Mental Health subcommittee for RRISD Student Health Advisory Council. During this time, I began to learn about Emotional Intelligence and the declining E.I. as traditional I.Q. increased. I studied Emotional Intelligence and wrote a lengthy paper describing the issues with the young people growing up in a world full of technology. This paper led to my selection by the RRISD Board of Trustees for this position. The paper led to the study of the issue and recommendations to the school board solving this growing issue amongst students. Every one of our recommendations were accepted as written. The following school year, work began district wide to increase Emotional Intelligence through targeted education. It was my vision that these educational programs would produce a generation of kids who were both emotionally and educationally intelligent. I am very proud of the work I did in this area. 

Prayer has always been a very important part of my life learning to pray at five years old. A large part of my testimony reveals my dedication to prayer and God’s beautiful answers even in life’s hardest moments. I have been a part of Moms In Prayer International for twenty years. Leading and recruiting moms to pray for their children and schools has been a great joy. 

My life has been both beautiful and painful, like most of ours. I’ve lost both of my parents, siblings, and endured a painful divorce. Prayer and my strong faith has been my anchor through all of my life’s ups and downs. Working through the difficulties, pain, and trauma of life is an investment in ourselves. It has been my life’s work to heal through and from my hurt. I love life and can honestly say, the work to understand and process my pain, trauma, and loss has led to freedom. I have worked hard for this freedom and seek it with each of my clients. I believe the scripture when God says that Jesus came that we might have abundant life. When asked, most people would not say they are living their abundant life. I am working hard to chase down every single area of my life that keeps me from living my own abundant life. For me, these areas include spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, and mental health. I work hard to help my clients reach the same abundance and freedom for themselves. 

I hold a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling certified in Temperament Therapy and Integrated Marriage and Family Therapy. The use of Temperament Assessments provides me with an immediate understanding in how my clients hold and experience pain and trauma. Years of working with clients and my own temperament gives me great insight in how to support, help, and lead clients in their healing. We work together to understand their story, trauma, and pain. We then develop a plan to grow and emerge stronger and more free.

I believe we all deserve to be whole and free.

I believe each of our stories in the hands of God is beautiful.

I believe I am called to help all those God brings to me.

I am grateful to be useful in the hands of God.