- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Kari
Kari Perez is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland with ten years of practice. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Kari also addresses concerns such as parenting, grief, eating issues, and challenges that come with young adulthood.
She trained at Loyola University where she completed a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology. Early in her career she spent four years at a long-term residential program helping adults who had both substance use and mental health concerns. That work gave her practical experience with addiction and daily life skills development.
Kari blends several methods rather than sticking to one model. She draws on client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior skills, mindfulness practices, and motivational interviewing. She looks for strategies the person can use in everyday life and adapts them as needs change.
In sessions she treats the person as the expert on their experience. She aims to listen, understand, and then offer tools and feedback that line up with each person’s goals. That can mean practicing new communication skills, building coping steps for moments of anger or stress, or working on motivation around substance use.
Her practical focus includes concrete steps and skill-building. Clients often work on communication problems, body image, mood concerns, and smoking or vaping cessation alongside core issues like anxiety and depression. Sessions are conducted in English and take place in Maryland.
How her approaches shape online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and treating the person as the expert in their life; it helps when someone needs reflective support and clearer goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and gives practical steps for changing unhelpful patterns, which is useful for anger, anxiety, and mood concerns. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships, and can be helpful when strong emotions feel overwhelming.Choosing the right blend of methods is part of the work. Kari collaborates with each person to decide which approaches match their needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying strategies, checking what works, and adjusting the plan together rather than committing to a single method up front.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm the current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, or allow for brief check-ins when schedules are tight. They can also let people use mindfulness or behavioral homework between meetings. Ask about session length and format when you schedule so you can pick the arrangement that fits your day.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
Kari works with stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, self-esteem, depression, parenting, grief, and related concerns such as body image and smoking cessation.
Which therapeutic styles does she use?
She uses a multimodal approach, drawing on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing.
How much experience does she have?
She has ten years of experience, including four years working in a long-term residential program for adults with co-occurring addiction and mental health challenges.
Is she a licensed therapist and where is she based?
She is an LCPC in Maryland and practices in that state.
What languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.