Kumi Pledger, MD, LCPC
Help to worry less and sleep better
Details
| Name | Kumi Pledger |
|---|---|
| Credentials | MD, LCPC |
| Based in | Maryland |
| Licensed in | Maryland |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Japanese |
| Years in practice | 10 |
About Kumi
Kumi Pledger is a Maryland-based therapist with a decade of experience. She holds an MD and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and she focuses on helping people feel less anxious, sleep better, and handle life changes. Her style is warm and respectful, and she aims to create a space where clients can be heard without judgment.
She draws on Narrative therapy along with attachment-based and client-centered approaches to help people tell their stories and make sense of painful patterns.
Background and approach
Kumi also uses techniques from cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy when helpful to address thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Sessions emphasize practical skills and clearer understanding rather than jargon. Kumi works with a wide range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting, career strain, grief, and sleep problems.
She also supports people facing attachment wounds, abandonment concerns, caregiver stress, communication struggles, and struggles related to gender identity and LGBT issues. Sessions are offered in English and Japanese, and she accepts international clients. Kumi provides therapy by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
Costs vary by location and therapist availability and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a person selects the Start Therapy button, completes a short matching questionnaire, and schedules according to therapist availability. Kumi aims to help people build practical tools and clearer stories about themselves so they can move forward with more ease.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem among the things Kumi works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Kumi among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Kumi directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Kumi directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Therapeutic approaches and online options
Many clients begin by hearing their story and noticing patterns, which is at the heart of Narrative therapy. This approach helps people reframe difficult events and see new possibilities for action and meaning. Attachment-based therapy looks at how early bonds shape current relationships and helps people build more supported ways of relating to others.Client-centered therapy focuses on treating people with acceptance and respect, following the client’s pace and priorities. Together these approaches can help with anxiety, trauma, relationship struggles, parenting stress, and identity questions. Kumi will work collaboratively to pick methods that fit a person’s goals and comfort level rather than prescribing a single way forward.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let a person read facial expression and tone much like an in-person meeting. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, grounding skills, or scheduling around a busy day. These formats help people fit therapy into work, school, or caregiving routines while still working with a licensed professional.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Kumi commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, grief, parenting and sleep problems, among other concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Kumi blends Narrative, attachment-based, and client-centered approaches with practical skills from CBT and DBT. She focuses on helping clients tell their stories and build workable coping strategies.
What is her professional background?
She has ten years of clinical experience and holds an MD plus a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential.
Where is she based and licensed?
She practices from Maryland and lists her credentials as MD and LCPC.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English and Japanese, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to match different preferences and schedules.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with Kumi?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Kumi are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Kumi where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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