Caryn Vaughan, Intern

Caryn's Path to This Work

Before entering the counseling field, Caryn spent years as an educator working with diverse learners, including neurodivergent students. That experience gave her a grounded understanding of developmental stages, emotional regulation, and what it actually looks like to support families navigating complex behavioral and emotional needs. It also gave her something harder to teach: a genuine instinct for meeting people where they are. That foundation continues to shape how she works, particularly with children, adolescents, and families who need a counselor who already speaks their language.

How Caryn Works With Clients

Caryn's work is built around one priority: making sure each client feels genuinely seen before anything else happens. Her approach is collaborative and person-centered, integrating evidence-based clinical methods with theological principles for clients who want that dimension. That might mean working through cognitive and behavioral patterns, processing grief or trauma, or incorporating prayer and Scripture into sessions. The direction is always set by the client, never assumed.

Her clinical work draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, inner child work, and trauma-informed practices. Together, these frameworks help clients understand their patterns, regulate their emotions, and build the kind of resilience that holds up outside the therapy room.

Training and Specialized Areas

Caryn brings specialized training in trauma, crisis intervention, and disaster response, along with certification in suicide prevention. She is also a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, which allows her to offer structured premarital and marriage counseling focused on communication, deepening connection, and building relational foundations that last.

For clients who want faith integrated into their care, Caryn has a background in pastoral care and can incorporate prayer and Scripture into sessions at the client's invitation. For clients who prefer a purely clinical approach, her care is equally grounded and effective. She meets each person where they are.