Karen Roach

Biography

I believe that behavior is communication and that children do well when they can. When a child is struggling, I look beyond the behavior itself to understand the underlying developmental, emotional, relational, or regulatory factors that may be getting in the way. My goal is to help families move from asking, "What's wrong?" to asking, "What does this child need?" so we can identify the root causes and create meaningful, lasting change. Hi, I'm Karen Roach, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 20 years of experience supporting children and families. I currently work as a school social worker and serve as an instructor in the Master of Social Work program at Loyola University Chicago. Throughout my career, I have pursued specialized training and certifications in play-based therapy, the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), and Neurofeedback Therapy. My approach is neurodevelopmental, relationship-based, and practical. I partner with children, parents, educators, and other professionals to better understand the brain behind behavior and develop strategies that support regulation, connection, resilience, and success. Whether I am conducting assessments, coaching parents, mentoring clinicians, or consulting with school teams, my focus is helping children build the skills they need to regulate, connect, and thrive across home, school, and community settings. I specialize in helping children who experience anxiety, emotional dysregulation, behavioral challenges, and difficulties with attention, learning, or social relationships. Using a strengths-based and relationship-centered approach, I partner with parents and caregivers to identify what is getting in the way and develop practical, realistic strategies that can be naturally integrated into everyday life. I believe that children do well when they can. When they are struggling, it is our job as adults to understand the "why" behind the behavior and provide the support they need to succeed. My goal is to help families better understand the brain behind behavior so children can build regulation, strengthen relationships, develop resilience, and have their best day every day; we achieve this through direct service skills sessions, caregiver coaching, or a comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment. You decide your path and I will walk that path with you.

Treatment Method

You can talk to your therapist in your first session about which approach would be the best fit for you.

Style