Who is Karen (Michan) Baum?

That’ me!

Let me tell you a bit about myself.

It has always been a dream to be a therapist. I thought about it back in high school. That was a loooong time ago! After being a stay at home mom for several years I decided to go back to school, finish my bachelor degree then master’s.

I worked for a few years with a non profit agency and foster children in group homes. I then went into private practice. I joined an agency and worked with couples, families, children, teens and adults. During this time I began Animal Assisted Therapy. I had two dogs that worked with me over this time period. My boy Colt was a black lab mix. He died suddenly at the young age of six. He was well loved by hundreds of people. Angel then took over his place. She is a great dane that began working with me at 10 weeks of age. Angel ws born deaf due to poor breeding. Currently she is 5 years old. She is beginning to losing her eye sight but is as happy as can be. She is retired now that I work from my home office although she can still be seen walking into the video during my sessions.

After several years I moved out of the area. That is when i started telehealth/video counseling and began the company Saving Grace Telehealth Counseling. I am currently working on an intense training on sexual health to become AASECT certified. I have been told by others that it is difficult to find therapists that will talk about sex. I have worked with people dealing with issues related to sexual dysfunction, low libido, polyamory and open relationships, LGBTQ including transgender and partners of transgender people. Many of my clients come to work on other issues that are not sex related such as anxiety, depression, communication, trust and more.

A career goal that I have not yet been able to complete (call it my career bucket list) is Equine Assisted Therapy. I would love the opportunity to have horses involved while working with clients. Maybe that will still happen!

Personally…I have two grown children (they will always be my “kids”) and four fur babies. The pets are spoiled rotten and do not realize, I think, they are pets. I love animals and used to have a mini farm with all kinds of miniature animals. I volunteer occasionally with a local volunteer fire department. Also, Free Mom Hugs in Ohio although disappointed we could not be at Pride this year. I also requested to volunteer with a local LGBTQIA+ area support group. Still waiting to hear when they need me.

So that is a bit about me. I know choosing a counselor can be a tough thing to do. My thoughts are that if you get an opportunity to see a bit about me it is going to make you more comfortable in this process.

Thanks for reading.