- Supportive presence
- Skill focused
- Collaborative process
About Karen
Karen Pelligra is a licensed mental health counselor who offers calm, practical support for people feeling overwhelmed by life changes. She brings 22 years of experience and a steady presence to sessions. Karen focuses on helping clients manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and other everyday struggles including thoughts and habits that get in the way of feeling better.
Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. She listens first, then helps people build small, doable steps they can try between sessions. That can mean learning ways to shift unhelpful thinking, practicing skills to manage strong emotions, or finding concrete routines that steady daily life.
Over two decades she has worked in outpatient community mental health, inpatient psychiatric care, and home-based family services. Those settings shaped a flexible manner of working that fits different life situations and levels of need. She draws on practical therapy methods to address mood problems, trauma, eating concerns, and coping with chronic illness or major transitions.
Clients can expect straightforward conversation, clear goals, and support in building better habits. Karen also helps with issues like parenting stress, compassion fatigue, grief, obsessive thoughts, panic, and addiction-related concerns. She aims to help people feel more capable of handling hard moments.
Based in New York, she offers services in English and uses a style that balances empathy with concrete techniques. Prospective clients are invited to start with a brief questionnaire to match with her and to schedule a first visit according to availability.
Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. She listens first, then helps people build small, doable steps they can try between sessions. That can mean learning ways to shift unhelpful thinking, practicing skills to manage strong emotions, or finding concrete routines that steady daily life.
Over two decades she has worked in outpatient community mental health, inpatient psychiatric care, and home-based family services. Those settings shaped a flexible manner of working that fits different life situations and levels of need. She draws on practical therapy methods to address mood problems, trauma, eating concerns, and coping with chronic illness or major transitions.
Clients can expect straightforward conversation, clear goals, and support in building better habits. Karen also helps with issues like parenting stress, compassion fatigue, grief, obsessive thoughts, panic, and addiction-related concerns. She aims to help people feel more capable of handling hard moments.
Based in New York, she offers services in English and uses a style that balances empathy with concrete techniques. Prospective clients are invited to start with a brief questionnaire to match with her and to schedule a first visit according to availability.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
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
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
How therapy approaches translate to online support
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters most to you. It helps when someone needs a supportive space to sort out feelings and decide on next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical strategies to change unhelpful thinking and daily habits. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clear interpersonal skills for intense emotions and relationship stress.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't worked before. Together they try methods that fit the person's life and adjust the plan over time based on what helps.
Confirm the available session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and reduce interruptions in regular routines. It can also allow for quick check-ins on difficult days and steady practice of skills learned in sessions. The focus is on practical tools and steady progress that can fit into everyday life.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Karen help with?
Karen works with many common concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, anger, addictions, trauma, eating issues, parenting stress, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She listens closely, then helps people set clear goals and try small steps between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She has 22 years of experience in outpatient community mental health, inpatient psychiatric settings, and home-based family services.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LMHC licensed in New York and practices from New York State.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with scheduling?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.