Karen Meadows, Ph.D.
Karen Meadows is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, author, and adjunct professor with over two decades of experience in counseling and education. She began her professional journey in corporate America but found her true calling after the profound loss of her mother, which led her back to school and into the field of counseling. Over 26 years, Karen served as a school counselor and district supervisor in Guilford County Schools, guiding students, families, and educators through challenges, growth, and healing. Her work has always been driven by a commitment to empower individuals to navigate adversity and realize their potential.
Today, Karen continues her mission through private therapy while remaining actively engaged with schools and communities. Her therapeutic approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, emphasizing practical, grounded strategies for personal growth. Karen’s career has also included international experience, such as her time in South Africa, where she trained teachers and supported students across cultural and language barriers—a transformative experience that reinforced her belief in the universality of healing and the reciprocity of learning.
As an author, Karen brings visibility to untold stories and unsung heroes. Her book, Pedagogy of Survival: The Narratives of Millicent E. Brown and Josephine Boyd Bradley, highlights the resilience of young social change agents during school desegregation, capturing the authentic voices of teens navigating trauma and perseverance. Currently, she is exploring a second edition of the book and developing an LLC aimed at serving marginalized populations, including women and the unhoused. Through writing, therapy, and education, Karen continues to transform her experiences into guidance and hope for others, believing that one’s journey can both teach and serve as a lifeline.
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro - Ph.D.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to not let yourself be your biggest barrier. Take leaps of faith, have confidence in your abilities, and trust in your innate resilience. Lean on your real skills and use them to your advantage. At the same time, do the work because it matters, not because it will be celebrated. True influence is built quietly in the margins, sustained over time, and demonstrated through service to others.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community has always been at the heart of both my work and personal life. I have volunteered with organizations supporting pregnant women and new mothers, coordinating annual drives for blankets and socks—items that are needed most but often go unclaimed. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that meaningful service is often quiet, repetitive, and unseen, and that recognition should never be the motivation. I was deeply honored to receive an award from Color of Change for my work in education and advocacy for underserved populations—not for the recognition itself, but because it affirmed that the work I was doing truly mattered.