About
About Kari O’Neill
Dr. Kari O’Neill, DSW, LICSW, has a Doctorate of Social Work and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Washington State.
Kari has experience working with a wide spectrum of patients. Among her areas of expertise are anxiety, depression, life transitions, new healthcare diagnosis, chronic health conditions, disability, intellectual and developmental disabilities, grief and loss, end of life support, family dynamics, parent/child relationships, and marital counseling. Prior to her employment at Swedish Medical Center as a clinical social worker, Kari worked in many social service settings including a rape treatment center, a health care clinic, and as a workshop facilitator for the Sibling Support Project at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Kari completed her clinical trainings at the Seattle City Attorney’s Office as a child abuse advocate and served as an outpatient therapist at Swedish Family Medicine.
Kari is an interactive, solution-focused therapist. Her therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help patients effectively address personal life challenges. She integrates complementary methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each patient. With compassion and understanding, she works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing.
Education
License, Certifications & Awards
Kari is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the State of Washington (LW60313502) and an approved licensed supervisor in the state of Washington.
Additional Training
Kari has received additional training on anxiety, grief and loss, palliative care, challenging childhood behaviors, intellectual and developmental disabilities, geriatric mental health, and LGBTQIA+ issues.
Professional Activities and Memberships
Kari serves as an affiliated medical staff provider for Swedish Medical Center Issaquah. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the American Psychological Association (APA). Kari also writes a blog called “Ask Kari.”
office staff
Mandy Evans
OFFICE MANAGER
Voted an Issaquah Highlands Connections Newspaper fan favorite.
Ask Kari: I’m a stay-at-home mom — how can I convince my husband to stop fighting with me about money?
I am a stay at home mom of three. I stopped working when I became pregnant with my first child and ever since then my husband and I are constantly fighting about money. He questions every purchase that I make for even for the most basic things and demands to look at all my receipts. He tells me that since “he works and I stay home, it’s his money that I am spending and he gets to keep track of it”. I am beginning to resent him so much; we had an agreement when we first married that I would stay at home and raise our children. Please help me get through to him that I do work, I just don’t get a paycheck for it every week.
Ask Kari: How can I support my in-laws if they won’t share why they’re in marital counseling?
My brother in law and sister in law are in marital counseling but won’t tell us why. I want to try and support them, but I feel that would it be easier to do if my husband and I knew what is the cause of their marriage problems?
Ask Kari: How can I get my kids to listen to me and cooperate?
I am a mother to three children and I try to do the best that I can to take care of all their needs, but lately the only thing that happens in our home on a regular basis is fighting about homework and chores. By the time we get home from afterschool activities, nobody wants to finish their homework, eat dinner, and help out around the house without crying and complaining. How can I get my kids to listen to me and cooperate?
“Kari’s support, experience, and expertise helped me directly to deal with a huge family problem. The jury isn’t in yet as far as the results of my actions, but at least I know I did the right thing for my family member. I am so grateful!”
–Patient