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KP Portrait of Karen Pelligra

Karen Pelligra

Compassionate, practical care for life’s challenges

LMHC New York

Experience
22 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Karen

About Karen

Karen Pelligra is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York with 22 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people navigate common and complex concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, trauma, and issues related to addiction and family dynamics.

Background and approach

Her practice also addresses mood disorders, panic and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, postpartum depression, and life transitions including divorce and changes in family structure. Pelligra draws from several evidence-informed approaches to tailor support to each client, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), client-centered methods, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and motivational interviewing.

She aims to create a collaborative environment where clients feel heard and gain practical tools for coping, managing emotions, and improving communication. Her background includes work in outpatient community mental health, inpatient psychiatric settings, and home-based family services, which informs a flexible and pragmatic style.

Clients seeking help with chronic illness, adoption and foster care issues, compassion fatigue, or seasonal mood patterns will find a clinician experienced in a broad range of life challenges. Karen emphasizes partnership in treatment, helping people develop skills and perspectives that support long-term wellbeing.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Therapy



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to improve mood and coping; it is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and can be adapted to online sessions with homework and skill practice. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and creating a nonjudgmental space so clients can explore their feelings and goals at their own pace; this approach supports trust-building in video or phone conversations. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be practiced and coached through synchronous or text-based formats.

Choosing the right method is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to identify goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, combining elements from different approaches when appropriate so the plan fits the client's needs and lifestyle.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit consistent work into a busy schedule and to access support from home or another convenient location. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver structured interventions, teach skills, and provide ongoing encouragement while accommodating different communication styles and day-to-day demands.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Karen commonly help with?
She works with many concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, addictions, and mood disorders among others.
What is Karen's therapeutic style and approach?
Her practice is collaborative and supportive, blending client-centered work with approaches such as CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to provide practical skills and emotional support.
How much clinical experience does she bring?
She has 22 years of experience providing counseling in outpatient community mental health, inpatient psychiatric hospital, and home-based family service settings.
What credentials and location are associated with this therapist?
She is an LMHC licensed in New York with license number NY LMHC 004297 and practices out of New York.
Does she offer services in languages other than English or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available for therapy?
Therapy can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and preferences.
How is payment handled and what do sessions cost?
Cost varies depending on location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working with this clinician?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefAnger managementDepression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseEating disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Social anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

22+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English