Karen Looney-Masterson MA, LPC, LCADC, CAMF
"Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become." ~Niebuhr
(908) 246-4011
Child & Adolescent Therapist
My name is Karen Looney-Masterson, MA, LPC, LCADC, CAMF. I am a compassionate child and adolescent therapist specializing in ADHD, anxiety, depression, time-management skills, and parenting support. I work with children, teens, and their parents to help families better understand emotional and behavioral challenges, build confidence, develop healthy coping strategies, and create meaningful, lasting change at home and beyond.
My approach is creative, collaborative, and individualized. Because children do not always have the words to express what they are feeling, I incorporate art and creative expression as therapeutic tools to help clients explore emotions, communicate their experiences, and develop new ways of coping. Art can provide a safe and engaging way for children to express themselves while building insight and self-awareness.
I also help children and adolescents develop practical skills for organization, planning, focus, motivation, and time management, particularly when ADHD or anxiety makes everyday responsibilities feel overwhelming. Through parenting support, I help caregivers strengthen communication, set effective boundaries, respond to challenging behaviors, and create consistent strategies that support their child’s growth. When children and parents work together, therapy can lead to real and lasting change.
My Goals
My goal is to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where every child and family feels heard, understood, and empowered to grow. Through therapy and parent collaboration, I help young people recognize their strengths, work through challenges, and develop skills they can carry with them into school, relationships, and everyday life.
Credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey.
- Licensed Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor in New Jersey
- Certified Anger & Emotion Management Facilitator
- Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology
- Member of The National Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi)
- Member of The American Psychological Association (APA)
- Member of The American Counseling Association (ACA)
Experience
- Birch Tree Psychology
- Insight Center for Counseling & Recovery
- Individual and Group Therapy sessions with clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, and addictions as well as behavioral and emotional disorders.
- Specialized in anger and emotion management and provided support in the development of social and emotional skills.
- Director of Admissions for Eva's Village Recovery Shelter
- Hackettstown Adolescent Counseling & Addiction Center
- Individual and Group Therapy treating adolescent clients struggling with addiction.
- Women's Recovery Center Eva's Village
- Individual and Group therapy focusing on sexual assault, trauma and drug and alcohol addiction.
- Saint Peter's Orphanage Inc.
- Developed an art room and implemented group sessions using art as a therapeutic tool.
- Devereux New Jersey
- Individual and group counseling for girls experiencing trauma.
Expertise
Anger and Emotion Management: Adolescents & Adults
Anger is often a mask used to hide fear and feelings of inadequacy. Explore the difference between anger and rage. Learn how to identify emotions, the events, triggers, and high risk situations which often escalate into anger. Develop thought stopping techniques and how to work through the triggers that lead to negative outcomes. Learn how to restructure your thoughts by using research based techniques to identify and manage emotions.
Stress Management: Adolescents & Adults
Stress is a part of life. Anxiety, feelings of doom and panic can be calmed or even eliminated. Recent research in the field of neurobiology has changed our understanding of anxiety disorders. Learn about the types of anxiety, the symptoms, and techniques such as meditation, self-talk, and other proven ways to soothe the anxious mind to achieve balance in your life.
Leadership Seminars: Adolescents
Learn how to cultivate leadership qualities by examining the lives of wise women and men, past and present who have lived extraordinary lives. Learn the attributes and philosophies of people who have transformed their passion into their life’s work so you can acquire concrete skills to nurture your potential and move you to greatness.
Expertise
Self-Esteem Building: Adolescents
Research reveals that low self-esteem is the foundation for anger issues, unhealthy and abusive relationships, addiction, bullying or being bullied, as well as eating disorders. Learn the definition of self- esteem and the difference between conditional and non-conditional self esteem. Explore the core beliefs that are linked to self distain and depression. Develop core affirming thoughts that will lead to unconditional self-worth and confidence.
Women & Girls
Women and girls can discuss issues that are on their minds relating to self, relationships, family, body, spirituality as well as universal issues that face women everyday. Through talk therapy, women and girls can sort through the static and mixed messages that target women and foster insecurity which distracts them from their goals. This process will help women and girls to reconnect with themselves and tap into their strengths to find their energy and personal power.
Life Coaching: Adolescents & Adults
This is a one-on-one session designed to educate, guide and support. This coaching encourages the client to form and achieve goals in a systematic way by providing a new skill set to help reach one’s full potential. The Five Stages of Change model is used to help motivate the client to make the desired changes while working through the barriers and resistance common in this process. Positive energy, conversation and reflection, partnered with vision, clarity and clear, concise steps which are the hallmark to change.
Expertise
Emotional Intelligence: Individual & Couples
Emotional intelligence is a term which was coined by Harvard's Dr. Daniel Goleman who has challenged the idea that conventional IQ is not the only measurement of one’s intelligence.
Harvard’s Dr. Howard Gardner has identified the different intelligences and has redefined and broadened the scope of our traditional idea of a person’s ability to take in and sort information. These sessions are designed to help you understand how you learn and your communication style impact your relationships. These sessions are designed to provide tools and more effective ways to communicate with the people at work, home, and social life.
Social Skill Building: Adolescents & Adults
Social skill building is a group that focuses on the skills that enhance relationships both personally, professionally and socially. These sessions addresses topics such as problem solving skills, communication styles, manners, social cues, personal care, time management and financial budgeting to name a few. My approach to these sensitive areas is with acceptance, compassion and humor always focusing on the client’s strengths. Creative projects are tools often used during these sessions.
Parenting Classes
Parents and caregivers attend private sessions to discuss parenting dilemmas and share the pressing issues parents are facing today. Parents and caregivers will learn about different parenting techniques and research based parenting skills. These skills will help foster confidence which will empower and provide a fresh new perspective.
Expertise
After Aftercare: Adolescents & Adults
Where do I go from here? After completing alcohol and drug rehabilitation, new issues emerge and support is needed. These sessions will discuss the feelings and issues that surface for the newly recovering person. You will learn new ways to cope with life on life’s terms.
Art Expression: Adolescents
Art expression fosters self-awareness and self-love through the arts. These sessions encourage self expression by using art and music as a vehicle for self-discovery in an open and easy going atmosphere where an individual is encouraged to freely express the self by way of creativity.
Aging Well: Adults
These sessions are designed to help you develop your definition of aging well. You will explore the many aspects and definitions society and the media challenges us with on a daily basis. These sessions will continue the conversation about living your best life and provide tools to effectively achieve your goals.
Life After Bariatric Surgery & GLP-1 Weight Loss
Where do I go from here? Your journey has just begun and these sessions address the challenges and feelings surrounding food related issues. These sessions will provide support and new ways to cope with these new lifestyle changes.
Contact Information & Locations
Text Me, Today!
(908) 246-4011
karen@bridgetochange.me
Wilson Building Office: 307 Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell, NJ 07006 (Suite 301)
Long Valley Office: 44 Laketown Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853
Directions
Wilson Building Office
The Wilson Building is located in downtown Caldwell at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Personette Street. If you are driving from Montclair on Bloomfield Avenue, turn right onto Personette Street.
The building entrance is located on the left side on of Personette Street under a black awning. Once inside, take the elevator or stairs to the third floor. Make a right out of the elevator and proceed to Suite 301.
Once inside the waiting room, please wait and I will be out to greet you.
Parking
Street parking is available along Bloomfield Avenue. The entrance for public municipal parking is available on the righthand side of Personette Street, behind the businesses on Bloomfield Avenue.
Please note that the parking lot directly behind The Wilson Building is designated for tenants only.
Long Valley Office
When arriving closer to the Long Valley Office, you will see West Morris Central High School on the corner of SOUTH Four Bridges Road and Bartley Road.
- Take a left onto Bartley Road
- Drive 500 feet to the first street on the right, which is NORTH Four Bridges
- Make a right onto NORTH Four Bridges
- Go up the squiggly mountain road to the fork in the road
- Make a left onto Laketown Road
- Drive 500 feet to the first driveway on the right
- You will see the sign "Wild Woods Farm-Mastersons"
- Make a right into the driveway, and make an IMMEDIATE HARD LEFT TURN down the driveway, towards house 44 (the house with the porch)
Parking
Please park on one side of the driveway for other clients to easily back out.
Please wait on the porch until I come out to greet you.
Long Valley Office Photos
