Life rarely unfolds exactly as we imagine. Relationships change. Careers shift. Children leave home. Loved ones pass away. Dreams evolve—or sometimes disappear altogether. During these seasons of uncertainty, no one should have to carry the weight alone.

As a therapist in training with Profound Peace Psychotherapy Collective, Kari Turner 
works alongside adults facing life transitions, grief, relationship challenges and other emotional struggles, creating a space where clients feel seen, heard and supported rather than judged. Her approach is rooted in partnership.

“We come alongside clients who want to work toward a range of things,” Kari explains. “Some people think you come to therapy and we just give answers, but we help facilitate the growth or direction someone is looking for. It’s a partnership.” 

Rather than telling clients what to do, Kari collaborates with them to establish meaningful treatment goals, monitor progress and develop practical tools that promote long-term emotional health. Whether someone is navigating family conflict, processing past trauma, working through career uncertainty or searching for a stronger sense of identity, therapy becomes a place to explore those experiences with curiosity and compassion.

One area of particular focus is grief—something Kari believes is often misunderstood.

“Our culture usually thinks grief is only when someone dies,” she says. “But any loss can spark feelings of grief.” 

That loss may involve the end of a relationship, losing a job, a major life change or letting go of dreams that never came to fruition. Regardless of its source, grief deserves acknowledgment and space to be processed rather than minimized.

“It’s never a rushed process of saying someone needs to get over it,” Kari says. “Grief can take many forms, and it goes on a continuum. Grief may involve experiences of anger, denial, bargaining, depression and acceptance.”   

Kari also recognizes that many emotional struggles emerge during life’s inevitable transitions. While change can bring excitement, it can also create tension between the future people envisioned and the reality they now face.

“A lot of times we have to assess what we had hoped for and maybe what reality is,” she explains. “It’s a part of integrating what happened into an acceptance process.” 

Drawing from acceptance-based therapeutic approaches, Kari helps clients learn to embrace what cannot be changed while discovering ways to move forward with greater peace and resilience. Whether someone is establishing an identity in early adulthood, adjusting to an empty nest or reflecting on later stages of life, therapy provides an opportunity to navigate those transitions with intention rather than isolation.

“I think wholeness happens in community,” she says. “In isolation, we’re sitting with our thoughts, and those thoughts can take us way into the future or way into the past.” 

That philosophy extends beyond individual counseling. While Kari primarily works one-on-one with adult clients, Profound Peace Psychotherapy Collective offers therapy for individuals, couples, families and groups through clinicians with diverse specialties. If another therapist within the practice is a better fit for a client’s needs, Kari believes connecting people with the right support is part of quality care. 

Her own path into counseling was anything but traditional. Kari originally studied Information Systems, helping organizations develop technology solutions. Over time, she realized many of the same principles applied to people.

“I found that translated a lot with humans,” she says. “We want to be the best we can be. We want to thrive. We want to have joy and feel whole.” 

Today, that desire to help others flourish shapes every aspect of her practice. Therapy, she says, is not about fixing people. Instead, it is about helping clients better understand themselves, align their daily lives with their values and develop healthier ways to respond when challenges arise.

“When I say better, I mean how you’re living truly aligns with how you feel and what you hope for yourself,” Kari explains. “Therapy isn’t about fixing a person. It’s really about learning more about yourself.” 

She also encourages clients to practice simple coping strategies between sessions. When thoughts begin spiraling, Kari often recommends movement—even something as simple as taking a walk, drinking water, tidying a room, listening to music or calling a friend. Small shifts in attention can help interrupt rumination and allow the nervous system to reset. 

For those considering therapy for the first time, Kari understands the vulnerability involved. She encourages people to meet with prospective therapists before committing to ongoing care.

“It can feel very vulnerable,” she says. “Do a 15-minute consultation. See who you connect with. Ask any question. No question is wrong.” 

Profound Peace Psychotherapy Collective is currently welcoming new clients in Wisconsin with both in-person and virtual appointments. The practice accepts many insurance plans, offers self-pay and sliding-scale options, and provides complimentary 15-minute consultations, so prospective clients can determine whether the therapeutic relationship feels like the right fit for them. 

For Kari, that first conversation is often the beginning of something much greater: helping people discover that they do not have to carry life’s burdens by themselves.

To learn more, to see if your insurance is accepted or to book a complimentary consultation or appointment with Kari, call 262-207-4796 or visit ProfoundPeace.org. Location: 5800 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee. See ad on this page.