Karim Escobar Franklin

I am a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience supporting children, families, and vulnerable communities through trauma-informed care. I hold a Master of Social Work from Northeastern Illinois University and have worked in both clinical and leadership roles across early childhood mental health, family systems, home visiting, and court-involved services. My work includes providing therapy, crisis intervention, parent coaching, and strengths-based assessments while collaborating closely with schools, courts, and community partners. I specialize in supporting families impacted by trauma, high-conflict dynamics, and social-emotional challenges, with an approach that is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in resilience and healing.

My work with clients is relational, strengths-based, and trauma-informed, with a strong emphasis on emotional safety, regulation, and practical skill-building. I tailor sessions to the client’s developmental level and needs, often integrating play-based, experiential, and structured interventions to support emotional expression, attention, and coping. I focus on helping clients identify emotions, build regulation strategies, improve communication, and navigate stressors related to family dynamics, transitions, and trauma. I also work collaboratively with caregivers, schools, and other systems when appropriate to support consistency, continuity of care, and meaningful progress outside of sessions.

Clients can expect the first session to feel welcoming, supportive, and paced with care. I focus on creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where clients can share at their own comfort level while we begin to understand their concerns, strengths, and goals. Together, we identify initial priorities for treatment and discuss what support might look like moving forward. My goal for the first session is for clients to leave feeling heard, grounded, and clear about next steps in their care.