Karissa Patberg, M.Ed.

Happy Swimmer & Owner; ARC Lifeguard Instructor; karissa@beswimhappy.com

What’s great is that my passion aligns with my profession. So, my days are filled with doing what I really love; making magic happen in the water! Keep in mind that my focus is always person-centered. My favorite days are when a swimmer is truly satisfied with the progress they have made, and their quality of life has improved. A Positive Approaches philosophy is a must for me.

Swimming has been a life long passion of mine. I’ve been a swimmer for as long as I can recall. Some of my fondest childhood memories are swimming competitively year-round. My first experiences working within the intellectual disability field were in the pool in 2000, teaching those with special needs. You can still find me doing the same thing now, many years later. From babies, to grandparents, and everyone in between, becoming a safe swimmer is possible. Swimming truly is for everyBODY!

In 2006, I earned a B.A. in Psychological and Social Sciences from Penn State. From there, I continued my education at Temple University, earning my M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology in 2010. Prior to diving into aquatics full time, I was a behavior therapist for over 7 years.

Besides formal education, I believe it’s important to find inspiration everyday life. For me, that includes being a single mom by choice, sipping a great cup of coffee, hitting the yoga mat, tending to my garden, cooking a favorite plant based dish, creating art, and dreaming up my next adventure. What inspires you?

Hope to see you at the pool!