I've Walked This Road. I Know the Way Back.
Meet Karen Schneller, LMFT, CEDS
I'm Karen Schneller, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), EMDR-trained clinician, and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) practicing in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, California.
Growing up in a larger body, I learned early what it meant to navigate a world I didn't fit into. The medical stigma, the weight of other people's judgements, and the common experiences with friends and family I quietly missed out on. What I didn't know then was that it would become my greatest catalyst for healing and help me uncover a deep sense of purpose. During my post-graduate studies, I pursued eating disorder recovery at treatment centers, recovery communities, and in private practice for 20+ years, supporting hundreds of people living in shame, self-hatred, and silence.
Years later, I discovered EMDR, which became my north star. It not only helped me personally process deep emotional layers within myself, but it reshaped my career and therapeutic approach entirely. Through EMDR and other evidence-based therapies, my goal is to empower clients to release the trauma that is keeping them stuck and finally experience the lasting healing they deserve.
Whether you're here to heal from trauma, difficult relationships, or an eating disorder – or all of the above, I'm here to help you achieve lasting healing, embodied wisdom and the ability to befriend your own nervous system so you can live freely.
About the Practice
EMDR is the heart of my practice
I specialize in trauma recovery and eating disorders – from the exhaustion of chronic dieting to the terrifying grip of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. My primary therapeutic approaches include EMDR, a gentle, highly effective therapy trusted by leading trauma experts and traditional talk therapy.
Through EMDR, I can help your nervous system finish processing the memories that have kept you on guard. Most people see shame, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and that constant low hum of danger begin to finally lift rapidly, while some feel the shift much sooner. EMDR does not require you to relive the pain of your past trauma, but allows your brain to heal in a way that is kind.
My practice serves clients in California, Texas, and Ohio and works collaboratively with a treatment team of dietitians, psychiatrists, and medical doctors to ensure truly comprehensive care. I have walked this road myself, which means my understanding goes beyond clinical training.
Every body belongs here
I lead a weight-inclusive, anti-diet, Health at Every Size® practice. We use the HAES® Approach established by the Association for Size Diversity and Health, which affirms that health exists on a continuum and that pursuing it is never a moral obligation or a measure of your worth. Every body, exactly as it is right now, is honored here. No changes required. No judgment. Ever.
The framing for the HAES® approach is derived from discussions among healthcare workers, consumers, and activists who reject both the use of weight, size, or BMI as proxies for health, and the myth that weight is a choice. It addresses forces that support health, such as safe and affordable access, and helps people find sustainable practices that support individual and community well-being. The HAES approach honors the healing power of social connections, evolves in response to the experiences and needs of a diverse community, and grounds itself in a social justice framework.
Book a Free Consultation
Take the first step
You are already worthy of care, rest, nourishment, and a life that feels peaceful. If something in you is whispering maybe there's hope for me – trust that. Reaching out doesn't mean you have to have it all figured out. It just means you're ready to stop carrying this alone. Book a free 15-minute consultation with me to see if my approach is the right fit for you.