Karen Contardo

Karen Contardo is a Washington LMHC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 15 years of clinical experience. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and questions about life purpose. Karen also supports people facing career doubts, parenting strain, grief, and changes that follow illness or chronic pain.

Her style is straightforward and person-focused. She listens for the problems that feel most urgent and helps people try practical steps to feel less stuck. Sessions often include looking at thoughts and behaviors, defining small goals, and practicing ways to handle difficult feelings or situations.

Karen uses three main approaches in her work: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. That mix lets her help people notice what matters to them, try new behaviors, and change unhelpful thinking patterns when those are getting in the way.

She has particular experience with midlife transitions, financial and career stress, and the emotional impact of chronic illness or pain. She also offers coaching-style support for clients who want clearer direction about work or purpose. Many clients find her helpful when they need structure for change rather than only talking through feelings.

Karen practices in Washington and meets with adults who want practical strategies and steady support while they re-evaluate priorities or cope with life events. To get started she asks new clients to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.

How Karen’s approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters to a person and taking actions that align with those values, even when difficult feelings are present. This approach can help with life purpose questions, midlife doubts, and coping with chronic illness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and change patterns that get in the way. Client-Centered Therapy centers on the person’s concerns and uses listening and reflection to help them find their own solutions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Karen will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then adjust the methods as therapy progresses. Decisions about pacing and technique are collaborative and can shift as needs change.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. It can also allow sessions when physical illness or pain limits leaving home. Licensed professionals can use a mix of conversation, worksheets, and behavior experiments adapted to an online session to help clients practice new skills between meetings.