After earning her undergraduate and law degrees from The University of North Carolina, Karen Riddell married her law school love, Steve, and moved to Atlanta to practice civil litigation. When the rapid arrival of three daughters spurred her to swap her briefcase for a diaper bag, she became an avid community volunteer, primarily in the areas of education, health care, and judicial justice for children.
Later, as her children headed off to college, Karen found a new passion: Friendship and its power to positively impact a woman’s life personally and professionally, emotionally and physically. Following her mission to spread this message, Karen became a friendship blogger on Psychology Today’s website and began speaking to women’s groups about friendship. She loves to share both the scientific research on friendship as well as the spiritual gifts of shared connections.
Karen’s interest in friendship led her to become certified in both applied positive psychology and life coaching. In her practice, she works with groups and individuals to find the sweet spot where their strengths, purpose and passions align. Karen partners with clients to clearly conceptualize their goals, envision the possibilities, and map out a concrete action plan for thriving. Karen’s practice centers on positivity, engagement, connection, purpose, and vitality.
In December 2020, with the world deep in a pandemic, Karen published Friendship Matters, a book extolling the miraculous power of friendship to transform your life. The how-to book details specific, simple ways to find, make, and build new friendships as well as ways to enrich, deepen, and strengthen existing relationships. It also contains an easy-to-use workbook that allows the reader to create their own personal path to joy through friendship.
Coaching
As a certified positive psychology life coach, Karen helps clients to clarify their desired objectives, broaden their perspective to alternatives, and develop directives to achievement. With non-judgmental focused inquiry, Karen helps her clients to move forward in a positive, solution-focused manner. To learn more about partnering with Karen, book a free consultation session using the link below.
Speaking
Available to speak on friendship and a variety of positive psychology topics like gratitude, resilience, and vitality, Karen delivers uplifting, informative presentations that inspire and motivate the audience to focus on relationships, positivity, engagement, meaning, and purpose.
Workshops & Programs
In workshops and programs, Karen’s personable style creates an inspiring environment that allows for introspection and personal development. Topics include featured subjects from her book Friendship Matters and the associated workbook. Karen also loves to speak to book clubs in person or by Zoom.