Karyn Cave, LICSW

About

  • Pronouns: She/her

  • Occupation and Specialty: Psychotherapist

  • Location (Clinic/hospital): Private Practice

  • Location (City): All of Minnesota

  • Offers Telehealth: Yes

  • Contact Information: karyncave.com

  • Bio: I offer a relational, conversational, and sometimes humorous approach, fostering a low-pressure environment. My approach will gently challenge you, when appropriate, to help you move towards your goals. I strive to create a safe and supportive space where you can explore your well-being and growth.

    As a Black queer woman, I understand the unique challenges and strengths that come with existing at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. All your identities, experiences, and culture are important in therapy and in your healing journey.

    I work from an anti-racist, feminist, trauma-informed, and Health At Every Size lens. I specialize in supporting people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and 5-40 year olds.

Approach to care

  • What does it look like for you to provide care to patients in larger bodies? How is, or isn’t, your approach different from how you care for patients in smaller bodies? If you work with children, how is or isn’t your approach different when working with children?

    I work with children and adults. I take a Health at Every Size approach. I acknowledge the lived experience of being in a larger body and fatphobia. I believe in fat representation and community.

  • What is your perspective on how weight is or is not related to health?

    You cannot tell a person’s health by their size. Health and weight are mutual exclusive. However fatphobia can greatly impact a person’s mental health.

  • Finish this sentence: “Fat people are…” 

    deserving of care and greatly underserved.

  • How do you, your clinic, and the healthcare system you work in use BMI (i.e BMI cutoffs for accessing certain services, BMI on charts and printouts, etc)? Is this flexible?

    We don’t use BMI at all.

  • If a patient declines to be weighed, how do you and/or your staff proceed?

    N/A

  • If a patient declines to discuss weight loss, nutrition, and/or exercise, how do you proceed?

    I let my clients take the lead and discuss / not discuss whatever they wish.

  • What does the physical accessibility of your office space look like? What kinds of accommodations are present for people in larger bodies? Are there things you wish were in place that are currently not? 

    My building is ADA accessible. We have couches and also have different rooms with seating options if needed.

  • What do you do to allow fat people to feel comfortable and welcome in your office? 

    I check in with physical and emotional comfort initially and through out the session. I use the language the client uses to identify themselves.

  • If you’d like to use this space to talk about any identities (gender, race, size, sexuality, etc.) you hold and how this relates to your care, please do so. 

    I identify as a queer Black, fat, cis-gendered woman.