Kumi Pledger , MD, LCPC

Kumi Pledger is a licensed clinician who combines medical training and counseling expertise to help people sleep better, worry less and enjoy life more. She holds an MD - Doctor of Medicine - and an LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - and brings ten years of experience guiding clients through stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship challenges and a wide range of life transitions.

Her work integrates guided imagery, mindfulness practices and Internal Family Systems (IFS) when addressing trauma, insomnia and unwanted behaviors, with a focus on personal insight and practical skills. Pledger emphasizes a compassionate, respectful stance that honors each person’s strengths and resources while supporting measurable growth and improved coping.

Her background includes experience with children, adolescents, couples, LGBTQ individuals, families and adults dealing with issues such as grief, parenting, intimacy concerns, addictions, bipolar disorder, career stress and family of origin dynamics. She also addresses attachment and abandonment issues, caregiver stress, first responder challenges, and gender dysphoria among other concerns.

Fluent in English and Japanese, Pledger aims to empower people to better understand themselves and their relationships so they can reduce anxiety, overcome insomnia and move toward more fulfilling daily life.

Integrating therapeutic approaches for online care

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relational patterns influence current bonds and emotional responses. In Kumi Pledger’s work this approach helps people explore attachment wounds, improve closeness in relationships and address abandonment or connection anxieties.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, acceptance and the client’s own capacity for growth. It creates space for clients to reflect, build self-understanding and develop goals at their own pace, which can be especially helpful for self-esteem, life changes and caregiver stress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replace them with more adaptive patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, insomnia and behavior change, and it pairs well with mindfulness and imagery techniques that Pledger also employs.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Kumi Pledger works with each person to determine which methods match their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging makes those approaches more accessible and flexible. These options allow clients to schedule sessions around work, caregiving and travel, maintain continuity during life transitions and engage in therapy in formats that suit their comfort and routine.