Karen Contardo, LMHC - Therapist in Washington

About Karen

Karen Contardo is a licensed mental health counselor who focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside a range of emotional and life challenges. She has 15 years of experience helping people manage anxiety, depression, stress, and changes in work or family life. Karen speaks plain language and offers steady, practical support when days feel overwhelming.

Her sessions tend to be straightforward and calm. She listens first, then helps clients notice what matters and try small changes.

Background and approach

Interventions draw from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to address thoughts, feelings, and values. She also uses client-centered techniques to make room for each person’s experience. Karen pays attention to everyday problems that affect families and parents.

She addresses sleep and eating concerns, intimacy-related stress, and coping with grief or chronic health issues. She helps with career and money worries as they intersect with family life. Clients can expect practical tools to manage tough moments.

Work in sessions may include naming patterns, testing new behaviors, and clarifying priorities. Homework is simple and tied to real life rather than abstract exercises. Karen holds a Washington Licensed Mental Health Counselor license, WA LMHC LH60461716.

Her practice is based in Washington and she conducts sessions in English. She does not work with international clients and structures services to match each person’s schedule and needs.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on clarifying what matters most to a person and taking committed steps toward those values, even when feelings are difficult. It can help with anxiety, depression, and finding direction during life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches skills to shift unhelpful patterns. This approach is useful for managing stress, sleep or eating problems, and everyday worries.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about symptoms, goals, and what feels comfortable, then adapt methods over time. Decisions about techniques and pacing are made together so work in therapy fits the client’s life.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let the therapist and client meet face to face from different locations. Phone sessions, live chat, and text messaging provide options for shorter check-ins or when schedules are tight. These formats make it easier to keep therapy consistent while juggling family, work, and other responsibilities.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Karen help with?

She supports people facing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship strain, parenting concerns, grief, sleep and eating issues, and life changes like career or financial stress.

What is her general approach in sessions?

She listens first and works collaboratively to set clear, practical goals. Sessions mix talking, skill practice, and small real-world steps to test new ways of coping.

How much experience does she bring?

Karen has 15 years of clinical experience working with a broad range of emotional and life challenges.

What credentials and location apply to this practice?

She is a Washington Licensed Mental Health Counselor - WA LMHC LH60461716 and practices in Washington.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

How are sessions conducted?

Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Self esteem

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 15 years
Licensed: Washington
Languages: English

Next step

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