A dedicated therapist for teens, adults, and couples who feel frustrated and anxious.
A dedicated therapist for teens, adults, and couples who feel frustrated and anxious.
In person near Fargo, ND & Online Across North Dakota
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Finding freedom through healing, understanding, and meaningful connection
Finding freedom through healing, understanding, and meaningful connection
with Karlee Harwell, LCSW.
with Karlee Harwell, LCSW.
Patient, consistent, and realistic
Many of the clients I work with feel disconnected in their relationships, unsure how to trust others, and overwhelmed by emotions that feel hard to control. They’ve been trying so hard to feel better, but nothing seems to change—and it’s hard not to compare themselves to others who seem to handle life and relationships much more easily.
The patterns that feel frustrating now—like shutting down, reacting quickly, or struggling to trust—usually develop as ways to cope with stress, trauma, or overwhelming experiences.
I understand that trust isn’t automatic, and I work at a pace that feels safe while still helping you make steady progress—especially if opening up doesn’t come easily. When things feel stuck, we don’t push past it. Instead, we slow down and stay present with what’s difficult, so change can happen in a way that feels sustainable and lasting.
Warm & Practical
I take a thoughtful and flexible approach to each session, adjusting our work based on your needs, your goals, and what’s coming up at the moment. This often includes integrating non-traditional approaches beyond talk therapy, allowing us to work in ways that are more direct, experiential, and effective. Together, this means we’re not just gaining insight—we’re also building practical tools and creating real movement, so you can move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.
In our work together, we’ll focus on helping you:
experience and process emotions more directly
handle big emotions without feeling out of control
understand patterns shaped by past experiences
make decisions that you feel good about
connect more easily with others
Meet Karlee Harwell, LCSW
Seen, Supported, Genuinely Understood
Part of what allows me to connect deeply with my clients comes from my own experiences. I know what it’s like to feel confused, overwhelmed, and misunderstood after experiencing trauma. As a teenager, I didn’t have the words for what I was going through, and much of that confusion showed up in my behavior. I was often labeled as “defiant,” when in reality I was trying to make sense of what had happened and figure out who I could trust.
Because of my experience, I understand how powerful it is to finally feel seen and supported without pressure. It continues to shape the way I show up for my clients today.
It also informs the way I think about healing. In the equine world, there’s something called liberty work—a way of working with horses that’s based on trust, communication, and choice rather than force or control. This philosophy is what inspired the name of my practice, At Liberty Behavioral Health Services.
My Specialities
My Specialities
Parents & Teens
Parents & Teens
Trauma
Trauma
Equine Therapy
Equine Therapy
Couples
Couples
Qualifications and Specialized Training
Education & Licensure
Education & Licensure
Bachelor of Arts in Gerontology, Minnesota State University, Moorhead, MN, 2016
Master of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 2019
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #5804) in ND, 2019
Advanced Training
Advanced Training
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Equine Assisted Therapy (EAP)
Equine Specialty
Equine Specialty
Before entering the field of behavioral health, I studied equine science and have remained involved in the equine industry over the years. My connection to this work started much earlier—when horses became a steady, grounding presence in my life and an important part of how I learned to process emotions, build trust, and make sense of difficult experiences.
That experience has stayed with me and continues to shape how I understand healing today. I originally pursued my Master’s degree in Social Work with the intention of one day integrating this work into my practice through equine-assisted psychotherapy.
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
Before transitioning fully into private practice, I provided clinical therapy, crisis response, and assessments in the public sector from 2019–2025.
My work has included supporting teens, adults, and families navigating complex situations such as trauma, severe emotional distress, behavioral challenges, and relationship difficulties. I also have experience working with individuals facing homelessness, unemployment, substance use, and more severe behavioral health concerns.
Working in these settings has shaped the way I show up as a therapist. I’m able to remain patient, flexible, and steady, even when things feel overwhelming or stuck.
I’m also comfortable adapting quickly to changing needs, helping ensure that our work together stays focused, productive, and responsive to what you’re going through in real time.
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