What is possible when we
look for the stories behind the story?

What is possible
when we look for the stories behind the story?

Karlyn Pleasants, PsyD

I offer hope to individuals and organizations ready to look beyond their current narrative and forge a new path of purpose, freedom, and health. 

Follow me on Substack for weekly invitations to…

Dr. Pleasants is a passionate teacher who inspires a love of learning, an excellent presenter who engages the heart and mind, and a wise mentor who has helped me increase my overall emotional intelligence and sharpen my skills and as a therapist.
Dr. Pleasants is a passionate teacher who inspires a love of learning, an excellent presenter who engages the heart and mind, and a wise mentor who has helped me increase my overall emotional intelligence and sharpen my skills and as a therapist.

Melissa Stevenson, LMFT

Speaking and Facilitation

I enjoy speaking to audiences ready to explore a new paradigm of mental health and facilitating some of the deeper work required to embody it. 

Karlyn Pleasants is a captivating teacher because she is an exquisite human who listens deeply, reflects constantly, and somehow manages to integrate life lessons in nearly every interaction. She has a honed awareness of what really matters in a message and guides the room with attunement and care.

Her natural speaking volume is soft, forcing the listener to lean in to carefully hear what she is saying and watch closely to feel the unspoken meaning expressed through her gestures and bright eyes. Her spiritual awareness and use of metaphor reminds us that nothing is ever one-dimensional.

As my supervisor, mentor, and friend for over a decade, she has taught me how to engage in difficult conversations and artfully find the words to carry people where they need to go by reminding them of their own stories, our collective human story, and the unseen possibilities in the next chapter.
Karlyn Pleasants is a captivating teacher because she is an exquisite human who listens deeply, reflects constantly, and somehow manages to integrate life lessons in nearly every interaction. She has a honed awareness of what really matters in a message and guides the room with attunement and care.

Her natural speaking volume is soft, forcing the listener to lean in to carefully hear what she is saying and watch closely to feel the unspoken meaning expressed through her gestures and bright eyes. Her spiritual awareness and use of metaphor reminds us that nothing is ever one-dimensional.

As my supervisor, mentor, and friend for over a decade, she has taught me how to engage in difficult conversations and artfully find the words to carry people where they need to go by reminding them of their own stories, our collective human story, and the unseen possibilities in the next chapter.

Kayla Karesh, M.A.T., M.A.

Registered Art Therapist

Now Available

Now Available

It started with smoke.

It only took a moment for the Driscoll family’s quiet life to catch fire. Disappearances into churches, murmurs of mental illness, and secrets long buried threaten to destroy their once-happy home.

Feathers from the Fire is the soul-stirring tale of one family’s daring attempt to transcend the trappings of fear, stigma, and generational pain by following the signs, leaning on allies, digging for the truth, and holding onto the hope that there is more than meets the eye.

Dr. Karlyn Pleasants has alchemized the wisdom of her twenty- five years of developing therapeutic community programs for individuals with complex mental illnesses and her love of legend and synchronicity into an unforgettable journey that demonstrates the power of curiosity, truth-telling, and love.

What is possible when we
look for the stories behind the story?

What is possible when we look for the stories behind the story?

This deeply moving work is a must read for anyone interested in the intersection between mental health and spirituality. I loved that the author boldly addresses generational trauma and its damaging effects on families who continue the cycle of repression and secrecy. Through her compassionate style, the author offers hope to her characters and to her readers who may be struggling with healing trauma in their own lives. This book inspired me to work through my own difficult familial relationships and rediscover what is possible when we offer radical acceptance, love and forgiveness. This is a truly unique work in a sea of ordinary. I know I will revisit Feathers from the Fire over the years as a call to action in my own life.
Thomasina Goltzer, M.A.Ed.
Mother, Educator

Contact Me

For all inquiries regarding interviews, speaking engagements, workshops, or the book, please include your message and information at the link below.