Karen Zelaya-Kendall

Karen Zelaya-Kendall is a licensed psychologist practicing in California. She focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, ADHD, and coping with life changes. She draws on nearly three decades of clinical experience to help people manage upsetting symptoms and regain daily functioning.

She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John's University and also completed a master’s degree there. Her credentials include PA Psychologist PS016415 and CA Psychologist 34533. Over her career she has worked across outpatient, inpatient, and residential settings and has experience providing individual, group, and family therapy as well as supervising trainees.

Her approach centers on practical skills at the start of work together. She helps people learn tools to reduce distress and improve routine functioning. Sessions emphasize clear strategies that people can try between meetings to feel steadier day to day.

She uses cognitive behavioral methods to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and replace them with more effective behaviors. For people with trauma-related concerns she offers evidence-based exposure approaches that focus on processing and reducing trauma-related reactions.

Clients can expect a collaborative process. The therapist helps set goals, teaches skills, and reviews progress together. The aim is to make changes that fit each person’s life and needs.

How therapeutic methods translate to online care

Many of the clinician's evidence-based methods focus on skill building and structured practice. Cognitive behavioral techniques teach people to notice thoughts and try new behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. These skills translate well to online discussions and between-session practice.

For trauma-related concerns she uses exposure-based approaches that help people gradually face and process distressing memories and reactions. These methods involve step-by-step exercises and careful pacing to match what each person can manage, which can be planned together in session.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose which methods to try first and adjusts based on progress, goals, and personal preferences. Clients are guided through learning and practicing skills, with check-ins about what helps and what needs to change.

Session format options are not specified here, so please confirm available online session choices before booking. Many people find remote sessions useful because they can fit appointments into work and family schedules, save travel time, and use quieter surroundings or shorter check-ins when needed. The therapist will discuss practical arrangements and help identify the best way to make therapy fit daily life.