- CBT strategies
- DBT skills
- Motivational interviewing
About Kari
Kari Perez is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland with 10 years of experience. She works with adults on concerns like anxiety, depression, stress, motivation, self-esteem, and addiction. Kari also lists young adult issues among her focus areas and helps people facing life transitions and the pressures of early adulthood.
She earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University in 2011. Early in her career she spent four years in a long-term residential setting supporting adults with co-occurring addiction and mental health needs. She has also provided outpatient care both in person and virtually across age groups.
Kari uses a multi-modal approach, drawing on several theories to find what helps most in a situation. That can mean practical skills for managing anxiety, concrete steps for addressing addictive behavior, or work on motivation and life skills. Sessions tend to be collaborative and goal-focused, with the client guiding priorities.
People often seek her help for stress related to school, work, relationships, and transitions. She also addresses body image, mood disorders, grief, parenting challenges, and substance use concerns. Her work includes attention to multicultural issues, LGBT topics, and postpartum mood changes.
In session she aims to partner with clients to clarify goals and try out strategies that fit daily life. For young adults this can mean getting unstuck after college, building routines for work, improving communication, or coping with feeling behind peers.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a collaborative relationship. The therapist follows the client's lead, reflects what they say, and helps them set goals; this is useful for addressing motivation and clarity during life transitions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In online sessions this often looks like setting specific tasks, practicing coping techniques between meetings, and reviewing progress together to reduce anxiety and depressive patterns.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving communication. Those skills can be practiced in short exercises and reviewed in subsequent sessions to help with anger, impulsive behavior, or relationship stress.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist and client will talk through goals, preferences, and what feels helpful, then try approaches together and adjust as needed. That collaborative process helps match methods to the person's life and priorities.
Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around school, work, or commuting. It can also allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, or video and phone choices when lower bandwidth or fewer visual demands are preferable.
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 types of issues does she address for young adults?
She works with anxiety, depression, stress, motivation, self-esteem, addiction, and related concerns such as body image, loneliness, and life purpose.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a multi-modal, client-centered approach that pulls from CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to meet practical goals.
What is her background and experience?
She has 10 years of practice, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, and four years working in a long-term residential program for adults with co-occurring addiction and mental health needs.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She is an LCPC licensed in Maryland and practices with that credential in mind.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can she work with people outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.