Karen Cappello

Doing anything new at first is scary, so taking that step can feel huge! The great thing is that therapy is about YOU, not the therapist. A great therapist will invite you to share what you want about yourself on your terms and timeline, and as you share your challenges, something shifts and you'll learn what can help make your life better.

Therapy starts from the moment we say "hi" to one another. I'm a low-key, very chill person who loves to laugh and I think that helps clients feel comfy from the get-go. My clients typically say I make them feel comfortable without pressure. My office has a comfy sofa for clients to sit on and I'll sit across from you in a chair, and then we talk about how the week has been for you, what challenges you might be having, and work on what YOU want to work on. I usually jot down notes to remind me as you're talking points that I may want to go back to because my memory needs that boost. If we're in a virtual session, I work hard to reduce any distractions (we have 2 dogs!) and honor your time. As we start to wrap up our session, we'll talk about what you're looking forward to for the week and then set a goal to work towards. And that's a wrap!

My clients come to me most often after their grades have started to drop, and they get in trouble at home or school (or work) due to impulsive behaviors, procrastination, excessive talking, and so on. The first thing I do with a client who may think they are or have actually been diagnosed with ADHD is to tell them that I also have ADHD. I know EXACTLY what it is to live with ADHD - the good, the bad, and the ugly! I look at ADHD as a gift and invite my clients and their families to view it through that lens. And, then we get to work on finding ways to be successful in spite of having an excessive amount of energy, enthusiasm, creativity, spirit, and zest for life.

If there was a silver lining to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that it opened the door for people who don't live near their therapist to get therapy when it's needed without leaving their office or home. What a blessing from such a trying time! Many of my clients live throughout the State of Florida and are not near me. Through the HIPAA-compliant platform (DOXY), I provide telehealth sessions where my clients log on, I ensure that they (and me) are in a confidential place, and we talk just as we would in person. For clients who cannot go to my office or are juggling a demanding schedule, telehealth allows a bit more flexibility before work or school, during lunch, or at the end of the day.