Hi. I’m Karen.
I know that creating a meaningful, nourishing life—inside and out—takes courage. Especially when life hasn’t turned out how you planned, the landscape you knew has suddenly changed, or your nervous system just isn’t cooperating.
Like all of us, I’ve been through some things. For me, those things were environmental disasters, accidents, loss of spiritual community, having my life threatened, the sudden death of someone I loved and the disappearance of another. It’s been challenging, and so rewarding, to learn to tend to my inner world so I can more effectively do my outer work.
That’s why today, as a coach, writer, editor, teacher, and retreat leader, I’m committed to supporting people who make this world a healthier, more beautiful place for all of us.
My background
For the last 20 years, my articles about personal development, health, environment, and art have been read by millions around the world—and I’ve supported hundreds of writers as they develop their own stories and books. I’ve spoken on stages to audiences of 10, 1,000, and 10,000 about what’s important to me and the lessons I’ve learned from my life. And for the last six years, I’ve worked with coaching clients one-on-one and led retreats in the wilderness, with the goal of helping changemakers, leaders, and creatives feel more calm, confident, and courageous so they can make their dreams real.
I’m a certified neuro-transformational coach and a graduate of the Co-Active Training Institute’s coach training program and its international leadership development program. As a trained Museum Sage guide, I work with a network of coaches and therapists helping people and organizations explore big questions through works of art at major museums.
In addition to running my boutique coaching business, I am the editor of American Craft magazine. It covers the work of diverse artists working in clay, metal, wood, textiles, and glass—and the cultural significance of craft. Formerly, I was editor-in-chief of Public Art Review, which covered the work of artists working in public spaces and the power of transformational placemaking, and of Utne Reader, where I was deeply immersed in the national conversation around consciousness, ecological thinking, personal development, politics, the arts, and positive solutions to global issues. I was also managing editor of the literary journal Colorado Review. I’m pleased that an article I wrote on gratitude for Experience Life magazine was included in Designing Your Life, Stanford University’s most popular class.
I hold an M.F.A. in creative writing, an M.A. in English, and a B.A. in art history and literature, and I’ve been awarded several artist residencies and grants. I’m a certified holistic health educator, a graduate of a permaculture design course, and certified in chainsaw operation by the U.S. Forest Service.
I’m also kind, nonjudgmental, encouraging, strategic, and brimming with open questions and ideas.
Check out my recent articles about personal development and health on my author page at Experience Life magazine
Check out Public Art Review, the magazine I edit for Forecast. It’s filled with inspiring stories about how artists are responding to and shaping our world, in communities and our shared public spaces. Their important work connects us to meaning, place, equity, health, justice, beauty, and each other.
