Profile / United States
Kara Denahan, LMFT
Rhode Island
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Relationships and Anxiety
See online therapy options- CBT focused methods
- Mindfulness practices
- Attachment-informed care
About Kara
Kara Denahan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Rhode Island with 23 years of clinical experience. She works with individuals on stress, anxiety, relationships, trauma and abuse, depression, bipolar concerns, and a wide range of life challenges. Sessions focus on practical steps to manage thoughts, behaviors, and everyday problems.
Kara began her professional path after earning a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Rhode Island. Before that she studied design and photography, and that earlier training shaped how she pays attention to details and patterns. Over two decades she has combined traditional therapy approaches with mindfulness practices she adopted from a meditation community influenced by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Her practice draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and test new ways of responding. She also uses Attachment-Based ideas to look at how early relationships affect current difficulties. Mindfulness and trauma-focused techniques are part of her approach when clients need tools for grounding and emotion regulation.
Kara has completed Internal Family Systems trainings and integrates the idea of inner parts to help people accept conflicting impulses and make calm choices. She references contemporary work such as Polyvagal Theory and interpersonal neurobiology to guide practical interventions rather than technical explanations.
In sessions she aims for clear, concrete steps - noticing thought patterns, trying behavioral experiments, and practicing small routines that change day-to-day functioning. Prospective clients are encouraged to confirm current session options before booking and to use the short matching questionnaire to schedule an initial appointment.
How her approaches translate to online work
Kara commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and Mindfulness practices into her work. CBT focuses on noticing and testing thoughts and behaviors with concrete experiments that can be practiced between sessions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in relationships and how early bonds shape current reactions, helping clients change interaction habits. Mindfulness offers simple breathing and awareness exercises to manage stress and grounding during strong emotions.Choosing the right mix of methods is collaborative. Kara will review goals and preferences with each person and suggest specific tools to try. That process includes checking what feels practical and what can be practiced in daily life, then adapting the focus as progress is monitored.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the current online options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow short check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals can guide how to use in-session exercises or between-session experiments so clients can apply techniques to real situations without overhauling their routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Rhode Island
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
Kara works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, depression and bipolar-related concerns, as well as issues like grief, addiction, and parenting strain.
What therapy approach does she use day to day?
She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and pairs that with mindfulness and trauma-focused techniques when needed.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has practiced therapy for 23 years, combining that time with ongoing trainings and study in related methods.
What credential and location apply to her practice?
She holds an LMFT credential and practices in Rhode Island as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How do fees and payment work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule the first session from the options provided.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.