Meet The Owner
Meet The Owner
Kara Kazemba, LCSW
My passion for mental health and systemic wellness has informed each step of my professional journey.
I started my career focusing on early childhood trauma and attachment after graduating from California State University, Sacramento, with a Master’s degree in Social Work.
After working in Child Protective Services, I entered community mental health with an appreciation for how early life experiences and relationships can lead to challenges in adulthood. I also saw how systemic supports, or the lack thereof, could impact individuals well past childhood.
Diving In Deeper
For several years I worked as a service coordinator for individuals with severe mental illness, gaining experience in a variety of modalities. This work allowed me to develop deep empathy for individuals living in “extreme states.”
During this time, I obtained my license to practice clinical social work (LCSW). After moving into management in 2014, I worked heavily on accessing grants for programs related to housing and homelessness.
Eventually, I became passionate about making sure that the process for seeking care was as trauma-informed and client-centered as possible. I took all my stubbornness and big ideas and eventually, Ancora came to be.
Today, I try to be as active as possible in my community, including volunteering and serving as co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Business Advisory Council. I try to participate often in community groups such as the Hillsboro Downtown Partnership.
Eclectic Approach to Counseling
As a therapist, I pull from a variety of approaches. My work with clients may include:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
- DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
- Attachment Theory
- Somatic Experiencing
My therapeutic style includes bluntness and a healthy level of swearing. I love when my clients have a dark sense of humor (there are worse coping mechanisms!). The greatest joy in my practice is the moment when a client remembers, regains, or finds their power and sense of self. I count it as an honor and a privilege to play a part in this journey.
I also offer license supervision to Oregon associates with a heavy focus on exploring areas of counter-transference and developing each clinician’s therapeutic lens.
Life In Oregon
Although I am a Washington native, I have lived in Oregon since 2012. I call the Hillsboro, OR community home, where I live with my partner and five kiddos, Baxter the Border Collie, and a geriatric cat named Mr. Pickles. When I’m not with clients, I channel my stress into cooking for my family, often using ingredients from our farm. I’m an avid runner with a goal of completing my first marathon in 2025. And, like many in their mid-thirties, I have recently rediscovered my love for reading thanks to Sarah J. Maas and always appreciates a quiet moment to escape.
