Karen Zylman

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Karen graduated with a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation from Michigan State University. She has experience working in mental health, with the chronic pain population and PM & R, and currently works on the Rehab Unit at Ascension Providence Hospital. Karen has been an instructor for the Arthritis Foundation in Tai Chi, Crisis Prevention Institute Instructor and Stroke Support Group Leader. To create a successful experience, Karen uses a variety of strategies to promote the integration of skills already owned by an individual with adaptations of new ones.  

Karen has been involved with the professional leadership of Therapeutic Recreation at the state and Metro-Detroit level over the years, planned multiple CEU conferences, and officiated Bocce Ball tournaments with the Windsor Games. She also has been an active community member: volunteering with many/all school functions of her 2 daughters, church, Girl Scout Leader, Optimist Club advisor.

In her free time, Karen enjoys being with her family and friends, her dog Zorro, spending time in the garden/outdoors, camping, running, playing volleyball, games, arts & crafts and cloud photography!

Karen believes in a person-centered approach. "If you promote connections with people, it leads to a natural connection to life”. Karen also loves quotes, and sites one from the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl saying, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’”.