Dr. Karen Vertti, LCSW

Dr. Karen Vertti is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She meets clients where they are and focuses on practical steps that can make daily life feel more manageable. Taking the first step can feel hard, and she aims to make the process straightforward and respectful.

Her approach centers on clear techniques and short-term goals. She commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on Solution-Focused Therapy to build on what is already working and Trauma-Focused Therapy when past hurts need careful attention.

Sessions are conducted in ways that fit each person's schedule, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. This makes it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to keep momentum between meetings.

Dr. Vertti believes clients bring strengths and knowledge about their own lives. She combines that perspective with practical tools so people can see gradual change. Her style is direct yet compassionate, and she focuses on skills people can use right away.

Licensed as an LCSW in Florida and California, she has worked across many settings over three decades. Prospective clients who speak English can begin by completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a session according to availability.

How these approaches translate to online care

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them against real-life evidence. In online sessions this means learning simple exercises and homework that can be practiced between meetings to reduce anxiety and improve mood.

Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes small, concrete changes that build on what already works. Online work can center on setting short-term goals and tracking progress, which helps keep sessions focused and action oriented.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk about goals and preferences, try methods that fit those needs, and adjust the plan as work progresses. That partnership helps clients find an approach that feels useful and practical.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for fuller conversations and visual cues, phone calls work when bandwidth is limited, live chat or messaging suit quick check-ins or shorter updates, and text makes it easier to fit therapy around a busy day. These options offer flexibility so therapy can fit into work, childcare, or other responsibilities without long travel.