Kari Perez, MD, LCPC

Kari Perez is a licensed clinical professional counselor practicing in Maryland who brings practical experience and a collaborative spirit to therapy. She earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University in 2011 and has worked across residential and outpatient settings to support people facing complex challenges. After four years at a long-term residential program serving adults with co-occurring addiction and mental health diagnoses, she expanded her practice to include outpatient work both virtually and in person with adults, adolescents, and children.

Her clinical focus includes anxiety, depression, stress, motivation, self-esteem, addiction, and building life skills. Kari draws on a multi-modal approach, blending techniques from several therapeutic theories to identify strategies that fit each person and situation. She views the client as the expert in their own experience and positions herself as a partner intent on understanding and supporting that perspective.

In collaboration with clients, Kari helps set and pursue meaningful goals, tailoring interventions to the individual rather than adhering to a single method. She enjoys working with people who want practical support for becoming their best selves, offering steady guidance for change and growth.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Kari Perez commonly draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy to support online clients. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an empathetic, nonjudgmental relationship in which the therapist follows the client's lead to explore values, goals, and personal strengths - a helpful fit for people working on self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship concerns.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replacing them with more adaptive patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress management because it offers concrete tools for changing how someone thinks and acts. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) combines acceptance and change strategies and includes skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness - approaches that can be useful for mood instability, anger, and coping with intense emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Kari works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences. Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - allowing licensed professionals to support clients where and how it fits their lives while maintaining continuity of care.