Karen Garraputa , LCMHC

Karen Garraputa is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) practicing in North Carolina with more than 25 years of professional experience. She brings extensive work supporting people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and challenges related to LGBT identity. Her practice also focuses on life transitions and practical coping skills for navigating change, as well as areas such as forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, mood disorders, self-love, and women's issues.

She approaches therapy by helping clients connect thoughts, emotions, and behaviors so they can make shifts that improve daily life. Her work draws on cognitive behavioral therapy - a structured method for identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and actions - and dialectical behavior therapy techniques alongside mindfulness practices to increase emotional regulation and practical coping. Karen combines clinical experience with a collaborative, down-to-earth style, meeting people where they are and helping them move toward the next moment with intention.

Clients who work with Karen can expect a thoughtful listener who honors their story and offers steady support through difficult transitions. She frames therapy as a process of exploration and gradual change, and she values the courage it takes to begin creating a life that feels more aligned with one’s goals and values.

CBT and DBT Approaches for Online Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps clients identify and change unhelpful patterns of thought and behavior. It is practical and skill-focused, and it often supports work on anxiety, depression, stress, and mood challenges by teaching concrete strategies to shift thinking and routine responses.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It blends acceptance and change strategies, which can be especially helpful for people managing intense emotions, relationship difficulties, and patterns of self-criticism or shame.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work itself. Karen collaborates with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques from CBT and DBT as appropriate so care is responsive and goal-oriented.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to access consistent support around busy schedules and life demands. These options allow clients to connect with licensed professionals from their own communities and maintain momentum in therapy even when in-person visits are impractical.