Karen Contardo , LMHC

Karen Contardo is a Washington-based Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 15 years of experience guiding people through complex life challenges. She focuses on helping individuals navigate depression, anxiety, relationship dynamics, and the ongoing work of personal growth, bringing steady professional support to each therapeutic relationship.

Her practice offers particular attention to women, young adults, and anyone facing life transitions or chronic health concerns. She also supports clients wrestling with educational, financial, or career decisions and the emotional strain that often accompanies those changes.

Karen adapts her approach to fit each person’s needs, honoring that recovery and wellbeing look different for everyone. She creates a compassionate, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, build resilience, and reconnect with inner resources.

She is especially committed to helping people who feel isolated, who are searching for purpose, or who are moving through midlife shifts or financial stress. Karen draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to match practical methods to each client’s goals and preferences.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Karen integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients clarify their values and take meaningful action even when they face difficult thoughts and feelings - this approach can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, offering a warm, empathetic stance that prioritizes each person’s experience and supports self-directed growth. Additionally, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is applied to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, which can ease symptoms of stress, anxiety, and mood concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Karen collaborates with each person to select and adapt methods based on their needs, goals, and preferences, treating therapy as a shared process of exploration and skill-building.

Online sessions provide practical flexibility - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging allow clients to connect from different locations and schedules. These options make it easier to maintain consistent therapy during busy or changing seasons of life while still working with a licensed professional who can tailor care to individual circumstances.