Karla Baur, M.S.W.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Since 1980 I have had the privilege of helping individuals and couples improve their lives and resolve personal, relationship, and sexual difficulties. I have training and experience in diverse therapeutic approaches, which gives me the ability to provide therapy that is tailored for each client’s unique situation.

Specialties
I have four main areas of specialization in my practice:

Adult individual therapy. I look forward to helping individuals with life's challenges related to work, family relationships, friendships, and single life. I assist many individuals in recovering from depression, grief, anxiety, post-traumatic stresses, and destructive relationships. I find it especially rewarding to help people step out of self-defeating patterns they have developed that interfere with fulfilling their true potential.

Performance enhancement. I utilize an effective, individualized process that quickly helps individuals overcome performance anxiety that interferes with them doing their best in public speaking, recreational and professional athletics, and the performing arts. I first began this unique version of sports psychology with equestrians and I have since had the pleasure to work with musicians, vocalists, actors, and people who want to improve their mental skills in golf, tennis, rock climbing, snow boarding, biking, and martial arts.

Couples therapy. General work with couples and sex therapy have been the main focus of my practice since 1970. Couples most commonly come to see me due to seemingly irresolvable conflicts or the loss of love and meaningful closeness. In addition, many couples seek my help following discovery of an extra-relationship affair, to repair a marriage headed for divorce, or to manage a divorce to minimize the impact on children.

Sex therapy. The most common sexual problem for which people, whether straight, gay, or lesbian, seek help from me is lack of and low sexual desire. Many individuals want therapy to help them recover from the negative effects of past sexual abuse or assault. I also work with many couples whose differences in sexual interest cause conflict. I assist individuals and couples who have difficulties in arousal (vaginal lubrication and erection) and orgasm (absence of, premature ejaculation, or delayed). Couples also seek therapy for sexual boredom and lack of sex in their relationships.

Clinical Training
Since earning my Masters degree in 1979, I have obtained advanced training in the following areas:

• Sex therapy - intensive training at the Masters and Johnson Institute, and certification as a sex therapist, sex educator, and sex therapy supervisor from AASECT, the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists
• Couples therapy - IMAGO Therapy, Family of Origin Therapy, John Gottman’s research, and behavioral/cognitive approaches.
• Performance enhancement and stress and trauma resolution - EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Writing
In addition to my clinical work, I am the co-author with Robert Crooks of Our Sexuality, a college textbook now in its ninth edition. Our Sexuality was first published in 1980, and it is the most widely adopted human sexuality textbook in the U.S.

Our Sexuality by Robert Crooks and Karla Baur
(This Review is by Amazon.com --
The most authoritative college textbook available on human sexuality, this new edition of Crooks and Baur's OUR SEXUALITY has been thoroughly and carefully updated to reflect the most current research literature. Sensitive, comprehensive, and candid scholars and teachers, the authors continue to engage students with the most exciting, emerging research in the field. The authors have further refined their focus on strengthening healthy communication among partners, as well as their overall coverage on maintaining a responsible and healthy sexual relationship. They have also given even greater attention to diversity and inclusiveness. Other highlights include the very latest research, including a new feature called "Spotlight on Research;" new stories about the experiences of real people from the "Authors' Files;" and a writing style that is warm, direct, and non-judgmental. As always, thorough coverage of all major topics is incorporated into every section (including sexual health). The result is a timely new edition that retains and builds upon all of the strengths that have made it the best-selling book in the market.)

Teaching
I have taught undergraduate and graduate level human sexuality courses at Portland Community College, the Oregon Health Sciences University, and Portland State University. I provide sex therapy consultation and training to other mental health professionals. In 2004 I traveled to Kenya to work in an HIV/AIDS prevention program, ACT NOW, where I helped train 26 Kenyans to be HIV/AIDS Prevention Peer Educators in their communities.

Professional Affiliations
I am a current member of the following organizations:

• American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
• EMDR International Association
• Academy of Certified Social Workers
• National Association of Social Workers

Hours
I am available for appointments:

• Tuesdays 8-5
• Thursdays 8-5

Fees
Initial appointment fee is $135, for each subsequent session, the fee is $105 for individual therapy and $120 for couple’s therapy. Fees are payable by cash, check, Visa, and Mastercard.

Insurance
I am a preferred provider for the following:

• Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Pacific Source
• Managed Healthcare Northwest

 

Baur Clinical Associates

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phone: 503.624.2737
4000 Kruse Way Place, Bldg. 2, Suite 330
Lake Oswego, OR 97035