✆ (207) 200-9628 | ✉ info@karinachandler.com | 25 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101

Individual & Family Counseling, Portland, Maine

A safe space to
begin healing

LCSW In-Person & Telehealth EMDR Certified Free Consultation

Reaching out takes courage — and I'm glad you're here. I work with individuals and couples ready to explore what's holding them back, heal from what's hurt them, and build a life that feels more like their own.

Karina Chandler, LCSW — Portland, Maine therapist
About Me

Warm, direct, and
invested in your growth

I've spent over 15 years helping people navigate the most difficult chapters of their lives, and I bring my own lived experience to my work. In addition to being a therapist, I'm a sister, a daughter, a wife, and a mother of two, navigating the beauty and complexity of family life. I've sat with my own grief, my own overwhelm, my own seasons of reinvention. I show up for my clients with patience, honesty, and a deep understanding of what it takes to make significant changes in one's life.

After graduating from Colby College and working at a suicide prevention nonprofit in Boston, I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of New England. In 2012 I began building my clinical foundation at Art of Awareness Wellness Center, working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. I opened my private practice in Portland in 2016 and am deeply honored by every human who has allowed me to be a part of their healing journey.

The years since have deepened my work in ways a degree alone never could. Becoming a parent, supporting aging loved ones, and being there for friends as they weather their own life challenges have made me an increasingly more empathetic and grounded clinician. I believe healthy bodies help create healthy minds, and I bring that holistic perspective to every session.

I love encouraging clients to get outside and play. When I'm not in my therapy office, you'll find me traveling, biking, hiking, skiing, practicing yoga, or otherwise adventuring with my family.

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A warm, inviting therapy space
Areas of
Focus

I offer research-based, compassionate care designed to create real, lasting change beyond the therapy room.

Whether you're carrying the weight of a single overwhelming event or years of compounding stress, I use EMDR and trauma-focused therapies to help you gently move through what feels stuck. Healing isn't about forgetting — it's about reclaiming your sense of safety, agency, and wholeness.

Becoming a parent brings unexpected emotional challenges alongside the joy. I support clients navigating anxiety, mood shifts, identity changes, and relationship strain during pregnancy and the postpartum period — with compassion, understanding, and without judgment.

Anxiety can show up as racing thoughts, avoidance, perfectionism, or a quiet hum of worry that never quite turns off. Together we'll uncover the patterns underneath and build practical, lasting tools to help you feel grounded and more present in your daily life.

When the things that once brought you energy or joy start to feel distant, it's easy to lose sight of yourself. I work with you to understand what's shifted, reconnect with what matters, and find your way back to feeling like you again.

Grief doesn't follow a formula, and there's no right way to move through it. I offer a steady, unhurried space where you can honor what you've lost while gently learning how to carry it forward without being consumed by it.

The relationships closest to us often hold the most complexity. Whether you're navigating communication breakdowns, family conflict, infidelity, or the pain of divorce, I help you find clarity, rebuild trust, and develop healthier ways of being in connection.

Major changes — a new career, a move, becoming a caregiver, stepping into parenthood — can leave you feeling unmoored even when the change is welcome. I help you navigate the space between who you were and who you're becoming.

When someone survives a long-term illness or sudden medical event, the emotional aftermath often goes unattended. I'm uniquely skilled in helping you process the fear, frustration, and grief that comes with living in a body that doesn't always cooperate.

How you see yourself shapes everything — your relationships, your choices, your willingness to take up space. I work with you to untangle the stories you've internalized and build a more compassionate, honest relationship with yourself.

Recovery from disordered eating is deeply personal and rarely linear. I provide a supportive, shame-free space to explore your relationship with food and your body — and to begin building patterns rooted in nourishment rather than control.

Treatment Approaches

How I Work

EMDR Mindfulness-Based (MBCT) Motivational Interviewing Trauma Focused Attachment-Based Emotionally Focused Relational Interpersonal Person-Centered Strength-Based Feminist Culturally Sensitive
Common Questions

What to Expect

What's the first step?

Start with a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll discuss what you're hoping to address and whether we'd be a good fit. No pressure — just a conversation.

Do you offer telehealth?

Yes! I offer sessions by video through a secure platform, in addition to in-person appointments at my Portland office. We'll find what works best for your schedule.

What does a typical session look like?

Sessions are typically 50 minutes. Whether you need an objective ear to work through a hard decision or someone to hold space for deep grief, I meet you where you are.

Do you take insurance?

I am an out-of-network provider. I accept Visa, Mastercard, and HSA payments. I can provide superbills for clients seeking out-of-network reimbursement from their insurance.

Who do you work with?

I work with older teens, adults, and couples. I'm allied with and affirming of LGBTQ+ clients and maintain a culturally sensitive, inclusive practice.

I'm nervous about starting therapy.

You're not alone — it takes courage to begin. I often suggest giving ourselves two to four sessions to see if we're a good fit. Feeling comfortable is critical, and I work hard to help you get there.

Get in Touch

Let's Start the Conversation

Your first step is a simple phone call.

Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what you're hoping to address and whether we'd be a good fit to work together.

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Office

25 Middle Street
Portland, ME 04101

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Telehealth

Video sessions available throughout Maine

View on Psychology Today →

Ready to take the first step?

I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can discuss your needs and make sure we're the right fit. There's no pressure — just a conversation.

Karina Chandler, LCSW

25 Middle Street
Portland, ME 04101

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