- Practical coping skills
- Collaborative treatment
- Mindfulness and CBT
About Karen
Karen Pelligra is a licensed mental health counselor who offers steady support for people facing big life stresses. She works with adults dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, addictions, and other common challenges. Karen emphasizes a calm, respectful approach so clients feel heard and understood from the first meeting.
She has worked in outpatient community mental health clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and home-based family services over 22 years. That range of settings shaped a practical style that focuses on what helps in daily life. She listens first, then uses straightforward tools to reduce distress and build coping skills.
Karen combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques and skills from dialectical behavior therapy. She also draws on mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing to help people make changes that matter. Sessions typically focus on clear steps and small experiments clients can try between meetings.
Issues related to adoption and foster care are included among the topics she treats, along with chronic health concerns, parenting strain, communication problems, and trauma. She aims to match her approach to each person's needs rather than following a single method.
Karen practices as an NY LMHC in New York and conducts sessions in English. She encourages people to reach out when life feels overwhelming so they can begin building steadier routines and better ways of coping.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's needs; that means the therapist follows the client's lead and helps clarify goals and priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks down upsetting thoughts and behaviors into steps and teaches practical strategies to change them, which can be used for anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Karen will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, preferences, and day-to-day life. Treatment can be adjusted over time based on what helps most.
Session formats are not specified in the original biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports working on skills between sessions and keeping therapy consistent during life transitions or when juggling medical or caregiving responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns can I bring to sessions?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, addictions, trauma, parenting strain, relationship struggles, and mood-related issues including bipolar and SAD.
What is her general therapy style?
The approach is collaborative and client-centered, using practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to address daily problems.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Karen has 22 years of counseling experience across outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and home-based family services.
What credentials and region apply to her practice?
She is a licensed mental health counselor - NY LMHC - and practices in New York.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not work with international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced and billed?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working together?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.