Karuna Counseling celebrated its remarkable 50th anniversary with a September 14th reunion event, bringing together therapist members from across its five-decade history. In addition to the more traditional celebratory activities of such events, the members in attendance spent a portion of their time gathered in circle to share and reflect together on Karuna’s origins, evolution and current status. It was incredibly heartening to affirm both Karuna’s consistency and expansion.
Karuna – originally named Karuna: Counseling for Women and Their Friends – was originally formed in 1974 by a group of dedicated female therapists with a shared mission to provide affordable and affirmative therapy primarily for women, at the height of what was the Women’s Movement. That mission has evolved and expanded over time to extend affirming and empowering care to all humans, maintaining a commitment to awareness of diversity across all identities. Holistic Mind-Body-Spirit orientations and practices have also emerged as a foundation for much of their therapist’s work.
A notable mark in Karuna’s early history was a hard-fought and successful battle with the IRS in 1976 to receive their 501c3 status while refusing to surrender their dedication to upholding non-heterosexual orientations as viable and valid identities.
Karuna’s current therapists are: Nyambura Kihato, LPC; Molly Keeton Parnell, PhD; Melissa Kulick, PhD; Hunter Sandifer, LPC; Lisa Anyan Smith, PhD; and Valarie Smith, LCSW. They range in duration of time spent with Karuna from three to thirty years, and represent over 80 years of combined experience providing skilled and compassionate care to their clients.
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