Karen Contardo , LMHC

Karen Contardo is a licensed mental health counselor based in Washington with 15 years of clinical experience supporting people through a wide range of life challenges. As an LMHC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor - she works with individuals facing depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem difficulties, grief, and coping with major life changes. Her background includes focused work with women, young adults, and those navigating transitions related to health, education, finances, or careers.

Karen tailors her work to each person she meets, blending evidence-based methods with an attentive, person-centered stance. She helps clients build resilience, explore values and purpose, and develop practical strategies for managing stress, sleep and eating disturbances, parenting strains, and intimacy-related issues. She also addresses chronic pain, illness, and disability as well as struggles with control, impulsivity, isolation, and feelings of emptiness.

Known for a collaborative and respectful approach, Karen supports people facing midlife shifts, career crossroads, money worries, and family dynamics. Her practice emphasizes emotional exploration, skill-building, and restoring a sense of agency so individuals can move forward with clearer goals and greater self-understanding.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Karen uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as core tools in her practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and commit to meaningful actions - it can be useful for anxiety, depression, and persistent life stress. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a warm, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship where the therapist follows the client's lead to foster self-exploration and emotional growth - it often helps with self-esteem, relationship issues, and grief. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors with practical strategies and skill-building, which can be effective for symptoms of anxiety, mood concerns, and coping with life transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Karen collaborates with each person to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting direction over time so the plan feels practical and relevant. This shared process helps tailor therapy to individual circumstances.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging all make it easier to fit care into a busy life. These options support consistent contact, allow work from home or other comfortable settings, and make it simpler to maintain momentum between sessions with licensed professionals and therapists.