Karyn Cave, LICSW

About

  • Pronouns: She/her

  • Occupation and Specialty: Psychotherapist

  • Location (Clinic/hospital): Private Practice, 2717 East 42nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55406

  • Location (City): All of Minnesota

  • Offers Telehealth: Yes

  • Contact Information: karyncave.com

  • Bio: I provide individual therapy in south Minneapolis and virtually. I work with people who appear to have it all together but feel stuck, exhausted, or disconnected inside. I also support kids and teens who need a steady, calm space to work through big feelings or tough transitions.

    If you’re navigating complicated relationships, worn down by work stress, or feeling stuck in perfectionism, you’re not alone. Clients often come to me wanting to quiet their minds, feel more grounded in their connections, and reconnect with the parts of life that matter. I also work with kids who are struggling with worry, emotional intensity, or school stress and need support naming and managing what they’re feeling.

    As a Black queer woman, I understand the unique challenges and strengths that come with existing at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. Your identities, experiences, and culture are important in therapy and in your healing journey. I work from an anti-racist, feminist, trauma-informed, and Health At Every Size lens.

    Email me at info@karyncave.com to set up a free phone consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

Approach to care

  • What does it look like for you to provide care to patients in larger bodies? How is, or isn’t, your approach different from how you care for patients in smaller bodies? If you work with children, how is or isn’t your approach different when working with children?

    I work with children and adults. I take a Health at Every Size approach. I acknowledge the lived experience of being in a larger body and fatphobia. I believe in fat representation and community.

  • What is your perspective on how weight is or is not related to health?

    You cannot tell a person’s health by their size. Health and weight are mutual exclusive. However fatphobia can greatly impact a person’s mental health.

  • Finish this sentence: “Fat people are…” 

    deserving of care and greatly underserved.

  • How do you, your clinic, and the healthcare system you work in use BMI (i.e BMI cutoffs for accessing certain services, BMI on charts and printouts, etc)? Is this flexible?

    We don’t use BMI at all.

  • If a patient declines to be weighed, how do you and/or your staff proceed?

    N/A

  • If a patient declines to discuss weight loss, nutrition, and/or exercise, how do you proceed?

    I let my clients take the lead and discuss / not discuss whatever they wish.

  • What does the physical accessibility of your office space look like? What kinds of accommodations are present for people in larger bodies? Are there things you wish were in place that are currently not? 

    My practice is intended to be as accessible as possible within the constraints of the space. My in person space has:
    -Gender neutral bathrooms
    -Furniture that is supportive of bodies of all sizes
    -One flight of stairs and unfortunately there is no elevator
    Virtual appointments are available for anyone either consistently or as needed (bad weather, injury, etc.).

  • What do you do to allow fat people to feel comfortable and welcome in your office? 

    I check in with physical and emotional comfort initially and through out the session. I use the language the client uses to identify themselves.

  • If you’d like to use this space to talk about any identities (gender, race, size, sexuality, etc.) you hold and how this relates to your care, please do so. 

    I identify as a queer Black, fat, cis-gendered woman.