Karl Smith

Karl was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. He has lived across the water from his hometown in New York City for the past three years. Karl received both his BA degree in Psychology with a minor in Public Health and his Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University. Prior to joining Refresh, Karl worked with adults, seniors, families, and transition-aged youth. Through this work, Karl developed a passion for varied human experiences. Karl works with clients experiencing depression, anxiety that comes with perfectionism, OCD, trauma, and other mental health conditions. Karl works through the lens of a unique black male perspective. Like many Black Americans, he traces his heritage to the South and the transatlantic slave trade; though his family have been staples in the Jersey City and NYC communities for over 100 years. Karl likes working with the LGBTQIA+ communities, and those whose cultural and religious identities have been overlooked. He helps his clients connect past experiences to current behaviors, and supports them through behavior change. In addition to his clinical work, Karl researches cis and transgender Black masculinity in Millenials. In his spare time, Karl enjoys playing board games, video games, and cycling. He is even working on designing his own competitive board game! Karl is an avid football fan and participates in fantasy leagues with his friends and family. Karl also loves sci-fi, fantasy and Anime. Since moving to NYC, Karl has come to appreciate living in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, while also finding comfort and community in his own neighborhood. Karl's self-care routine includes meditation and a focused breathing practice. He enjoys long walks through the park with his partner and their dog, Professor. Karl has become increasingly invested in doing his part to address the global climate crisis by joining a local CSA (community supported agriculture) and working towards a low-waste lifestyle. Karl also supports several Black founded and led organizations and nonprofits aimed at promoting physical and mental in Black communities and beyond.