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Karen Pelligra

Karen Pelligra

LMHC

New York

Compassionate counselor focused on practical change

Continue with Karen

At a glance

Credentials
LMHC
License
LMHC, New York / 004297
Experience
22 years
Languages
English
Location
New York

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Motivational interviewing
    • Practical coping skills
    • Collaborative goal setting

    About Karen

    Karen Pelligra is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who practices in New York. She brings 22 years of hands-on experience in outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric settings, and home-based family services. Karen focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and life transitions. She aims to create a calm space where people feel supported and heard.

    Her approach centers on working together with each person to set clear goals and practical steps. She uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own reasons for change. Karen also draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and from Client-Centered Therapy to provide a respectful, nonjudgmental setting.

    Over two decades she has worked with many concerns including trauma and abuse, addictions, mood disorders, panic, OCD symptoms, postpartum depression, and compassion fatigue. She also addresses practical challenges like communication problems, divorce or separation, adoption and foster care issues, and chronic illness or pain.

    Sessions focus on achievable strategies, short-term skills, and deeper work when needed. Karen encourages collaboration - clients set the pace and priorities while she offers tools and feedback. This makes sessions useful whether someone needs immediate coping skills or longer-term support.

    To begin, people choose the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's available times. Karen works in English and does not take international clients.

  2. How therapeutic approaches fit into online care

    Karen uses Motivational Interviewing to help people clarify what matters to them and find personal reasons to make changes. This approach is useful when someone feels stuck or unsure about next steps. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the person sets the pace and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, when used, focuses on noticing unhelpful thoughts and practicing concrete skills to change behavior or mood.

    Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Karen discusses goals and preferences with each person and adjusts methods as needed. That means early sessions often include a bit of exploration to identify which tools feel most helpful for day-to-day life and longer-term growth.

    If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people use techniques like behavioral experiments, mindfulness practices, and skill rehearsal in the settings where they live and work. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises so sessions feel practical and focused on change.

  4. 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

    Listed in

    New York

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What kinds of problems does she help with?

    She helps people address stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and life changes such as divorce or empty nest. Additional areas include trauma, addictions, eating concerns, and mood disorders.

    What is her therapy style like?

    Her style is collaborative and supportive, emphasizing clear goals and practical steps. She blends approaches to match what each person needs.

    How long has she been practicing?

    She has 22 years of clinical experience working in outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and home-based family services.

    What are her credentials and location?

    She is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor, noted as LMHC, and practices in New York.

    Which languages are supported?

    Sessions are offered in English.

    Can people outside the U.S. work with her?

    International clients are not currently accepted.

    How does payment work?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

    How do I begin therapy?

    Click the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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