Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Kushnir.
Hi Kara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
A Work of Heart Counseling was built from both professional calling and personal conviction. I’ve always been drawn to the emotional worlds of women and children — particularly the spaces that often go unseen or minimized. Early in my career, I worked closely with families navigating anxiety, trauma, developmental differences, and life transitions in schools, in-home therapy and medical settings. Over time, I began to notice how frequently maternal mental health was overlooked — especially during pregnancy and postpartum. Women were struggling quietly, often high-functioning on the outside, but overwhelmed internally – I saw this in my teacher colleagues navigating IVF, pregnancy losses or returning to work and feeling so lost. I began a journey into private practice in 2019 on a very part time basis while also working in that school system – then I got married and wanted to have a baby, and COVID happened. Quickly our worlds were turned upside down and I was struggling with some medical issues in my pregnancy that led me to a “sink or swim moment”, as I knew I could no longer keep working in the school. At 4 months pregnant I took my part-time job made it my full-time mission. Since 2020, it has grown from just me to a team of 15 providers and counting, all specializing in pediatric and/or perinatal mental health.
I became a therapist and social worker because of my own experiences growing up – I have a sibling with autism, intellectual disability and significant behavioral challenges and watched a mom navigate cancer when I was 11 years-old. Those experiences really shaped my view on what’s important but also led me to want to support other kids, women and parents navigating challenging times and circumstances. My own journey with birth trauma and postpartum anxiety, OCD and PTSD really shaped my journey to want to specialize in maternal mental health even more. As I deepened my training in perinatal mental health and child development, it became clear to me that if we want to truly support children, we must support their caregivers — and if we want to support mothers, we must understand the full relational system around them.
What began as a small vision — a space where women and children could receive specialized, deeply attuned care — grew into A Work of Heart Counseling. I wanted to create something that felt different: clinically rigorous, yes, but also warm, intentional, and community-centered. A place where therapy didn’t feel sterile or transactional, but relational and grounded in real life. I named the practice “A Work of Heart Counseling” due to the inspiration of an amazing principal and boss, Bonnie Cagney Lau, who told me, “it’s hard work because it’s heart work – it matters,” and I carry that with me into all we do as a practice from trainings to community events and the therapy sessions I conduct.
We’ve grown not just in size, but in impact — partnering with schools, hosting community workshops, training professionals, and advocating for maternal and child mental health across New Jersey. We are so fortunate to lead community events and engage in philanthropic efforts that help us reach families beyond the therapy office and make a lasting impact on our community.
Today, I’m most proud that A Work of Heart has become more than a therapy practice — it’s a hub for connection. We are building villages around families during some of their most vulnerable and transformative seasons.
And we’re just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a LOT of hard work and determination. I have been so fortunate to meet amazing people along the way and have a partner who is very supportive of my professional goals. Building a business while raising a child is humbling to say the least – it reminds me often that working mothers have unique challenges that our society is not friendly to. That being said, I have found that staying focused on what I am doing and tuning out the noise has really helped me to not only find success with building my practice but also remain focused on my “why”. I also believe our attunement to the community has afforded us with the trust of families who recognize that we “get it.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
A Work of Heart Counseling (AWOH) is a boutique group psychotherapy practice based in Bergen County, NJ, specializing in maternal mental health, child and adolescent therapy, and family-centered care. We were founded on the belief that mental health care should feel deeply personal, relational, and grounded in both clinical excellence and heart.
We are especially known for our work in perinatal mental health — supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, fertility challenges, loss, and the identity shifts that come with motherhood. Our clinicians are trained in evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches and many hold advanced certifications in perinatal mental health. We also specialize in early childhood emotional development, parenting support, anxiety, OCD, trauma, neurodivergence, and strengthening family relationships. Essentially, we like to say we are here for “cradle to college and beyond.”
What sets AWOH apart is our integration of clinical expertise with community connection. We don’t just provide therapy sessions — we build villages. Through workshops, school partnerships, volunteer initiatives, and events like our Village Series, we actively create spaces where families feel seen, supported, and less alone. We collaborate closely with trusted local providers — from pediatricians to pelvic floor therapists — because we believe whole-person care requires a team.
Brand-wise, we are most proud of cultivating a practice that feels both elevated and welcoming. From the aesthetic of our spaces to the way we communicate online and in the community, everything is intentional. We aim to demystify and destigmatize mental health, especially for mothers and children, while maintaining clinical depth and professionalism. Our brand stands for warmth, competence, advocacy, and hope.
What we want readers to know is this: seeking support is a sign of strength, not failure. Whether you are a new mother navigating anxiety at 2 a.m., a child or teen struggling with big emotions, or a parent feeling overwhelmed and unsure — you deserve thoughtful, specialized care. We are honored to walk alongside families in some of their most vulnerable and transformative seasons.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
We’re moving toward true integration of mental health into OB/GYN offices, pediatric practices, schools, and primary care. Perinatal mental health screening is becoming more normalized, and I anticipate continued policy changes that require earlier identification and referral. The siloed model of care is slowly dissolving, and collaborative, multidisciplinary care will become the standard — not the exception.
There is also growing awareness that supporting maternal mental health is preventative medicine for the next generation. The research around attachment, early brain development, and intergenerational trauma is reshaping how we think about investment in families. I believe we’ll see more funding, programming, and school-based partnerships centered around early emotional health.
Telehealth is here to stay, but beyond that, we’re seeing AI-assisted documentation, digital mental health tools, and hybrid models of care. The key will be balancing efficiency with humanity. The future isn’t less relational — it’s finding ways to use technology to protect clinician bandwidth so we can be more present in the work that matters.
If I had to summarize the direction of the field in one sentence:
We are moving toward earlier, more integrated, more specialized, and more relational care — grounded in both neuroscience and community.
And personally, I’m excited about that direction. It aligns deeply with the model we’re building at A Work of Heart — collaborative, specialized, prevention-focused, and rooted in connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aworkofheartcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aworkofheart_counseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aworkofheartcounseling
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-work-of-heart-counseling
