Serving the Greater Houston Area Since 1987
Ken Waldman, Ph.D.
“Love is a verb.” S. Covey
Karen Waldman, Ph.D.
My approach to helping
Whether working with individuals or couples, my goal is for every client to leave every session being glad they came, feeling both hopeful about a better tomorrow and empowered to make that happen. I work collaboratively with clients to help them identify their values, goals, inner resources, and strengths. I teach couples new ways to communicate effectively, to work together as
a team to generate win-win solutions, and to rediscover the emotional and/or physical intimacy that they once had. I often use brief, solution-focused interventions and introduce Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a treatment that most clients quickly embrace. I also have extensive experience with several other types of therapies, which I adapt in order to demonstrate a concept or clarify an issue. This makes my therapeutic approach both eclectic and individualized to ensure that my clients experience effective and lasting positive changes in their lives, moving forward in the direction of their values.
My areas of specialization
Couples counseling / Couples therapy
Marital counseling / Marital therapy
Relationship counseling
Individual therapy / Individual counseling
Professional consultation
Pre-marital counseling
Separation counseling
Divorce counseling
Remarriage counseling
Step-family counseling
Parenting education
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Clinical hypnosis
Guided imagery
Mindfulness / Meditation
Behavioral Health
Rehabilitation
Stress management
Pain management
Smoking cessation
Grief / Complicated bereavement
Veterans’ issues
Related concerns I help with
Infidelity
Trust
Communication
Conflict resolution
Fear of commitment / fear of intimacy
Financial disagreements
Extended family / family of origin issues
Adjustment to separation, divorce
Adjustment to remarriage / blended families
Depression
Anxiety
Anger
Addictions
Combat-related PTSD
Aging and caregiving issues
Adjustment to disability and/or chronic illness
Weight loss / healthy eating
Insomnia
GLBT issues
Chronic pain
Qualifications
I feel most fortunate to have had a wide range of professional experience, enabling me to work with a diverse group of clients having many different types of issues. While in graduate school at the University of Houston, I served as the Director for the Center for Students with disABILITIES for six years. This opportunity helped me learn a tremendous amount about Rehabilitation Psychology, adjustment to chronic illness and physical impairments, disability legislation, etc. I then completed a one-year residency in Clinical Psychology at UT-Medical School, followed by a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in Geriatric Psychology. After earning my Ph.D. in 1995 and becoming a licensed Psychologist in 1996, I joined the staff at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center here in Houston, where I worked for 18 years. At the VA, I provided couples counseling and individual therapy, led a variety of psycho-educational and process groups, gained experience with GLBT issues, and trained/supervised Psychology students and Psychiatry residents from Baylor College of Medicine (where I held an Assistant Professorship).
Professional Memberships
American Psychological Association, American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, Texas Psychological Association, Houston Psychological Association, National Register of Health Service Providers
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” M. Gandhi
My approach to helping
I specialize in Couples Counseling and Marital Therapy, although I see individual clients as well. My approach is theoretical and practical. I utilize research findings about what works and doesn’t work in relationships. My style tends to be active and directive, especially when seeing couples. Most of my work is short-term. I quickly help my clients improve their communication and conflict resolution
skills, both of which are enormously helpful in improving their relationship. Much of my work is psycho-educational in that I feel most people have had poor training in how to have a healthy relationship. I believe that with education, direct intervention, and practice, couples can achieve a happier, healthier way of relating to each other with the goal of achieving emotional intimacy.
My areas of specialization
Couples Counseling / Couples Therapy
Marital Counseling / Marital Therapy
Relationship Counseling
Individual Therapy / Individual Counseling
Professional Consultation
Pre-marital Counseling
Sex Therapy
Separation Counseling
Divorce Counseling
Remarriage Counseling
Step-Family Counseling
Related concerns I help with
Infidelity
Trust
Sexual issues of all types
Communication
Conflict resolution
Fear of commitment / fear of intimacy
Financial disagreements
Extended family / family of origin issues
Adjustment to separation / divorce
Adjustment to remarriage / blended families
Depression
Anxiety
Anger
Addictions
Qualifications
My Ph.D. is from the University of Texas-Austin in 1975, and I have been a licensed Psychologist since January 1977. I spent most of my career working on college campuses, including 11 years as Director of the Counseling Center at University of Houston. I am now in private practice full-time. I am both a licensed Psychologist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In addition, I have taught Marriage and Family Counseling classes, given dozens of workshops on relationships, and have trained numerous Psychologists.
Professional Memberships
American Psychological Association, Texas Psychological Association (Spotlight Member - July, 2014), Houston Psychological Association, National Register of Health Service Providers
