Dr. Kari Schlessinger

Dr. Kari Schlessinger is a New York psychologist with 18 years of clinical experience. She is listed as NY Psychologist 016617 and focuses on common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. She also addresses parenting challenges, anger, motivation, and isolation and loneliness.

Her approach starts from the belief that each person knows their own story. She listens first and looks for the strengths a person already has. Sessions aim to build confidence, reduce intense emotions, and improve everyday coping skills.

She uses practical, talk-based methods drawn from Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to help people make changes that matter to them. Conversations are focused and goal-oriented, often working on small steps toward clearer thinking and better habits.

Dr. Schlessinger pays attention to how stress shows up in day-to-day life and helps people find ways to manage it. She also supports those struggling with caregiving strain, communication problems, first responder work stress, and impulsivity.

People who reach out can expect a respectful, nonjudgmental stance that emphasizes collaboration. The therapist encourages realistic goals and steady progress, and helps people recognize the skills they already have to face difficult situations.

How these approaches guide online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the person, helping them feel understood and seen. This approach helps when someone needs support processing emotions and building confidence. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and works on small, practical changes. CBT is useful for stress, anxiety, and mood concerns. Motivational Interviewing helps people find and strengthen their own reasons for change and can be useful when motivation feels low.

Choosing a method is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and experiment with approaches that fit. Together they decide what feels most useful and adjust as progress is made.

Because session formats are not listed in the biography, confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people try talk-focused work from a familiar setting while focusing on real-life skills and habits that carry over into everyday routines.