Kara Anderson , LPCC, LMHC

Kara Anderson is a licensed counselor with 29 years of clinical experience, holding the credentials LPCC and LMHC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She began her counseling career in Florida in 1994 as a residential therapist in a psychiatric hospital and moved through roles as an outpatient therapist, clinical supervisor, and program director in a substance abuse treatment agency. In 2001 she relocated to Ohio and spent 13 years serving as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - Supervisor, program manager, and program administrator for a mental and behavioral health nonprofit. In 2014 she returned to Florida and shifted her work to an online practice, where she has provided services for more than eight years.

Kara’s clinical philosophy is grounded in humanistic principles with a strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as the foundation of change. Her style is warm, interactive, attentive, and compassionate, guided by genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy. When appropriate, she also uses direct and structured interventions and often assigns therapeutic tasks between sessions to support continuity and progress. She tailors treatment plans to each person’s unique needs and paces work according to individual readiness, while encouraging steady movement toward goals.

She takes a holistic approach to well-being, attending to balance across life domains and how unmet needs in one area can affect others. Her professional reputation reflects a commitment to high standards of practice, including ethical conduct, organization, and thoughtful clinical care. Kara’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami, a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University, and post-graduate coursework in career counseling and the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of mental disorders at the University of Dayton in Bexley, Ohio. She has worked with diverse populations across residential, outpatient, and community settings and specializes in treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, substance use and addiction, trauma and abuse, and grief and loss. Her broader experience also encompasses LGBT concerns, relationship and family issues, parenting and intimacy challenges, anger management, self-esteem, career-related difficulties, compassion fatigue, and other co-occurring conditions. She is not currently accepting new clients.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Kara draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to guide online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a warm, empathic relationship where the therapist listens deeply and supports the client’s own growth and self-awareness; it is useful for those seeking acceptance, self-exploration, and improved relationships. CBT helps clients identify and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns through practical skills and exercises, often applied to anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. DBT emphasizes skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be beneficial for intense emotions, interpersonal conflict, and patterns of impulsive behavior.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Kara works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals and adjusts methods and pacing as treatment unfolds, combining humanistic attunement with structured tools when appropriate.

Online sessions are offered by licensed professionals using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These options allow scheduling around work, caregiving, and geographic constraints, and make it easier to maintain continuity of care when life circumstances change.