# Dr. Karen Bergstrom

> Psychologist, executive coach and professor with more than 35 years of practice, and Director of Leadership at Townsend Leadership Group. She helps leaders, teams, pastors, boards and campuses grow through relationship, starting with the TPRAT, the assessment of four life capacities that she trains and certifies leaders in.

Website: https://drkarenbergstrom.com/
Based in: Orange County, California
Contact: https://drkarenbergstrom.com/#contact (contact form; email karen@drbergstrom.net)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-karen-bergstrom-19487372/

## Key facts
- 35+ years of practice as a psychologist, executive coach and professor.
- Has worked with 39 organizations: 10 companies (including Taco Bell and Microsoft), 5 state human services agencies (Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Alaska), 3 universities, 6 churches and 15 nonprofits.
- Trains and certifies TPRAT facilitators.

## The TPRAT
The TPRAT (Townsend Personal and Relational Assessment Tool) is an online assessment, about 20 minutes, of four life capacities:
- Attachment (building trust): being open and vulnerable with others, and drawing out their trust.
- Separation (setting boundaries): knowing what you are for and against, owning your voice, saying no well and confronting with care.
- Integration (engaging reality): facing loss, failure and hard news, adapting, and grieving without self-judgment.
- Adulthood (living with ownership): relating as a mutual adult, and following your purpose with your full talents.
TPRAT capacities and labels are copyright Townsend Leadership. Take it at https://tprat.com

## Ways to work with her
- Executive group coaching: a small-group leadership program for executives.
- TPRAT facilitator certification: for coaches, HR professionals and counselors.
- Workshops and speaking: keynotes, retreats and leadership days for organizations, universities and churches; most talks pair with a follow-up workshop. Topics: the four life capacities; boundaries for leaders and pastors; relational health in organizations; growing through failure and loss.
- TLP cohort: 12 months, small group, one-to-one time built in; starts in September; applications open late spring through summer.
- Consulting and Flourish groups for women, on request.

## How growth works
Take the TPRAT (week one), debrief one to one (weeks two to three), choose a path (month one), grow in relationship (months two to twelve), retake the TPRAT (one year on).

## Free resources (interactive, with PDF versions)
- Character capacity worksheet: https://drkarenbergstrom.com/#worksheet
- Relational nutrients worksheet: https://drkarenbergstrom.com/#nutrients-worksheet
- Indicators of a relationally healthy team (team check-in): https://drkarenbergstrom.com/#team-check
- The 22 relational nutrients, from People Fuel by Dr. John Townsend
- The TPRAT white paper (draft for review): https://drkarenbergstrom.com/research/tprat-white-paper

## Media
- TPRAT: The power of relationships, Townsend Institute Podcast, episode 58: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/townsend-institute/episodes/058--Dr--Karen-Bergstrom-TPRAT--The-Power-of-Relationships-e367ucb
- Improving our relationships, We're Going There with Bianca Olthoff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEGFgt67_pg
- The fruit of growth, Becoming Evergreen Podcast, episode 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eBeXtJOP84

## Common questions

### What is the TPRAT?
The TPRAT is a 20-minute online assessment that measures four life capacities: Attachment (building trust), Separation (setting boundaries), Integration (engaging reality) and Adulthood (living with ownership). Its full name is the Townsend Personal and Relational Assessment Tool. A validation study with 1,145 participants reduced it to 20 items. Dr. Karen Bergstrom trains and certifies leaders to use it.

### Who is Dr. Karen Bergstrom?
Dr. Karen Bergstrom is a psychologist, executive coach and professor based in Orange County, California, with more than 35 years of practice. She is Director of Leadership at Townsend Leadership Group and certifies TPRAT facilitators. She has worked with 39 organizations, including five state human services agencies, Taco Bell, Microsoft, universities and churches.

### What are the four life capacities?
The four life capacities are Attachment, Separation, Integration and Adulthood. Attachment is building trust by being open with others. Separation is setting boundaries and owning your voice. Integration is facing loss, failure and hard news without self-judgment. Adulthood is relating as a mutual adult and following your purpose with your full talents.

### How can I work with Dr. Bergstrom?
You can work with Dr. Bergstrom through executive group coaching, TPRAT facilitator certification, workshops and speaking, or a year-long TLP cohort. Consulting and Flourish groups for women are available on request. Start with the contact form on this site and choose the topic that fits.

### How do I become a certified TPRAT facilitator?
To become a certified TPRAT facilitator, apply through the contact form and choose TPRAT certification as the topic. The certification is for coaches, HR professionals and counselors, and teaches you to guide people through the TPRAT and the growth work that follows.

### What is a TLP cohort?
A TLP cohort is a 12-month, research-based leadership development program for a small group of leaders, with one-to-one time built in. Cohorts start in September, and applications open late spring through summer.

### How long does relational growth take?
Relational growth with Dr. Bergstrom usually takes about a year. Leaders take the TPRAT, debrief the results one to one in weeks two and three, choose a path in month one, grow in relationship over months two to twelve, then retake the TPRAT to measure the change.

### Does Dr. Bergstrom speak at events?
Yes, Dr. Bergstrom gives keynotes, retreats and leadership days for organizations, universities and churches. Her topics include the four life capacities, boundaries for leaders and pastors, relational health in organizations, and growing through failure and loss. Most talks pair with a follow-up workshop.

### What are the 22 relational nutrients?
The 22 relational nutrients are the things people need from each other to grow, from People Fuel by Dr. John Townsend. They fall into four groups: be present, convey the good, provide reality and call to action. This site has a free interactive card and worksheet for them.

## Policies
- Privacy: https://drkarenbergstrom.com/privacy
- Accessibility: https://drkarenbergstrom.com/accessibility