Licensed to practice in Maryland and accepts 29 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
(she/her)
Clients say this provider is
Hello, I’m Kumi Pledger, LCPC, and I am currently accepting new clients. I am also available on Sundays to better accommodate busy schedules. I provide a warm and supportive space for adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, self-doubt, or major life transitions. Many of my clients appear strong and capable on the outside while privately feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from themselves. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and gently direct. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and trauma-informed care, I help clients understand the patterns beneath their struggles, develop practical coping skills, strengthen boundaries, and rebuild trust in themselves. With a multicultural background and diverse life experiences, I am especially mindful of how culture, family expectations, identity, and caregiving responsibilities can affect emotional well-being. My goal is to help you feel genuinely understood as you create a life that feels more peaceful, confident, and authentic.
Beginning therapy can feel like a big step, and it’s completely normal to have questions, uncertainties, or mixed emotions about the first session. My goal is to make your initial experience feel welcoming, supportive, and grounded in trust. Our first session is not about judgment, pressure, or having everything figured out—it is about getting to know you and creating a space where you can begin to feel safe, understood, and supported. We’ll start by talking about what brings you to therapy at this point in your life. You may have a clear reason, such as anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma, grief, difficulty sleeping, or adjusting to a new role, job, or environment. You may also feel unsure and simply know that something feels off or overwhelming. Both are completely okay. Therapy does not require a perfectly defined problem—sometimes the work begins with curiosity and exploration. During this session, I’ll ask questions to help me understand your current concerns, personal history, relationships, and life circumstances. This may include questions about your emotional well-being, family dynamics, cultural background, stressors, coping strategies, and any previous experiences with therapy. These questions help me gain a fuller picture of who you are and what you may need, but you are always in control of what you choose to share. There is no expectation to disclose everything at once, and we will move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Creating a safe, nonjudgmental, and culturally responsive space is central to my work. I understand that many clients come into therapy feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally guarded—especially if they are used to being strong for others or carrying multiple responsibilities. My role is to meet you where you are, listen with care, and support you without judgment or assumptions. The first session is also an opportunity for you to learn about me and how I work. I believe therapy is most effective when it feels like a good fit, so I welcome your questions about my approach, experience, and what therapy with me may look like. We’ll review confidentiality, discuss boundaries, and talk about what you can expect from the therapy process overall. Transparency is important, and I want you to feel informed and empowered as we move forward. Together, we’ll begin to identify your goals for therapy. These goals can be specific—such as reducing anxiety, improving communication, setting healthier boundaries, or managing stress—or more general, like gaining clarity, feeling more balanced, or reconnecting with yourself. Goals can also change over time, and therapy is flexible enough to evolve as your needs shift. Toward the end of the session, we may begin discussing a general plan for therapy. This could include how often we meet, approaches that may be helpful, and what areas we might focus on first. While some clients prefer a structured plan right away, others benefit from taking more time to explore. Both approaches are valid, and we will collaborate to find what feels right for you. It’s important to know that you don’t need to feel “better” by the end of the first session. For many people, the most meaningful outcome is simply feeling heard, understood, and a little less alone. Therapy is a process, and the first session is just the beginning of building a supportive therapeutic relationship. If at any point you feel unsure, emotional, or overwhelmed during the session, that’s okay. Strong emotions can come up when talking about personal experiences, and we will approach them with care and grounding. Your comfort and emotional safety are always a priority. Ultimately, the first session is about laying the foundation for meaningful work together. It is a space for curiosity, reflection, and connection—one that honors your experiences, strengths, and readiness for change. Whether you are seeking support during a difficult season or looking to better understand yourself and your patterns, you are welcome here. Taking this step toward therapy is an act of self-care and courage. I look forward to getting to know you and supporting you as you begin this journey toward healing, clarity, and balance.
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to help clients feel genuinely safe, seen, and understood. I listen carefully not only to what clients say, but also to what may be underneath their words—the fear, shame, grief, unmet needs, or protective patterns they may have difficulty expressing. Clients often tell me they feel comfortable opening up to me about experiences they have carried alone for a long time. My style is warm, compassionate, and conversational, but I am also honest and gently direct. I do more than simply listen; I ask thoughtful questions that help clients connect present struggles with past experiences, recognize recurring patterns, and understand why they respond the way they do. I believe many behaviors that clients judge harshly began as ways of surviving, coping, or protecting themselves. Understanding this can help replace shame with self-compassion. My approach stands out because I balance deeper emotional exploration with practical support. I integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and trauma-informed care based on each client’s needs. Together, we may explore the origins of a painful belief, identify unhealthy relationship dynamics, practice setting boundaries, or develop concrete tools for managing anxiety and overwhelming emotions. I am especially passionate about helping clients who have lost trust in themselves through trauma, difficult relationships, family expectations, caregiving roles, or major life transitions. My multicultural background also helps me remain sensitive to the ways culture, identity, and family values shape a person’s experiences. I do not view clients as people who need to be fixed. I see them as people with strengths, wisdom, and resilient parts that may have become hidden beneath years of pain or responsibility. My goal is to help clients understand themselves, reconnect with their voice, and move forward with greater confidence, clarity, and self-trust.
My ideal clients are individuals who are ready—or beginning to feel ready—to explore what may be holding them back from living a more balanced, fulfilling, and authentic life. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Many of the people I work with come in feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted, knowing that something needs to change but not always knowing where to begin. If you are open to self-exploration, growth, and healing, even with hesitation or fear, we may be a strong fit. I work especially well with clients who feel weighed down by anxiety, chronic stress, or emotional overwhelm. You may find yourself constantly worrying, overthinking, or feeling on edge, even when things appear “fine” on the surface. Perhaps you struggle to relax, sleep, or feel present in your daily life. My ideal clients want to better understand their anxiety, develop healthier coping strategies, and regain a sense of calm and control. I am also well positioned to support individuals navigating unhealthy, toxic, or narcissistic relationship patterns. These experiences can leave you feeling confused, emotionally drained, questioning your self-worth, or doubting your own perceptions. Many clients come to therapy after years of putting others first or minimizing their own needs. Together, we work on rebuilding self-trust, strengthening boundaries, processing emotional wounds, and developing healthier relational patterns that support your well-being. Trauma survivors are another group I am deeply committed to supporting. Trauma—whether from childhood experiences, relationships, losses, or significant life events—can continue to impact thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships long after the event has passed. My ideal clients may not always label their experiences as trauma but notice lingering effects such as anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or difficulty trusting others. I provide a trauma-informed, compassionate approach that prioritizes safety, empowerment, and pacing that respects each client’s readiness. I work well with individuals experiencing low motivation, emotional disconnection, or a loss of direction. You may feel stuck, unfulfilled, or disconnected from who you once were, especially after major life transitions. This includes adjusting to new jobs, new environments, changes in relationships, parenthood, or shifts in identity. My ideal clients want to reconnect with themselves, rediscover purpose, and create a life that feels more meaningful and aligned with their values. I also support individuals exploring identity and self-acceptance, including LGBTQ+ clients. Navigating identity questions, coming out, or living authentically can bring both growth and stress, particularly when family, cultural expectations, or societal pressures are involved. My ideal clients want a safe, affirming space where they can explore who they are without judgment, build confidence, and strengthen their sense of self. New and expectant mothers are another group I am well suited to support. Pregnancy, postpartum changes, and parenthood can bring emotional challenges such as anxiety, overwhelm, guilt, identity shifts, and feelings of isolation. My ideal clients may feel pressure to “do it all” while struggling internally. Therapy can offer a space to process these changes, prioritize emotional well-being, and build resilience during this significant life stage. I also work with clients coping with grief and loss. Loss can take many forms, including the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, changes in health, or the loss of a future you once imagined. My ideal clients want support in processing their grief at their own pace, honoring their emotions, and learning how to carry loss while continuing to move forward in life. In addition to adults, I support children and adolescents who are struggling with emotional regulation, anxiety, self-esteem, behavioral challenges, or life transitions. My ideal young clients benefit from a supportive environment where they can learn to express emotions, develop coping skills, and build confidence, while families receive guidance to better support their child’s growth and emotional needs. Across all ages and concerns, my ideal clients share a common desire: they want to feel heard, understood, and supported without judgment. They are open to reflection, willing to look at patterns that may no longer serve them, and interested in learning healthier ways to cope, relate, and grow. You do not need to be “ready for change” in a perfect or confident way—just willing to show up and engage in the process. If you are seeking a therapist who offers warmth, cultural responsiveness, emotional safety, and gentle but honest guidance, we may work well together. Therapy with me is collaborative, respectful, and paced according to your needs. Together, we work toward greater clarity, emotional balance, stronger boundaries, and a life that feels calmer, more authentic, and more aligned with who you truly are.
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Bipolar Disorder
Career Counseling
Child or Adolescent
Coping Skills
Domestic Violence
First Responders/Healthcare Workers
Grief
Health/Medical Issues
Insomnia/Sleep Issues
Life Transitions
Asian / Asian American
Woman
Adults (18 to 64)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Maryland
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Anthem
CareFirst
Independence Blue Cross
Independence Administrators
AvMed
Cash - $125 per session
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
"I have several years of experience using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in particularly with clients dealing with anxiety, depression, and trauma. My use of ACT is grounded in its core processes: cognitive defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action.
"I have extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my clinical work with individuals experiencing a range of mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and behavioral issues. I rely on CBT as a structured, evidence-based framework that helps clients identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.
I have significant experience using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), particularly with clients struggling with emotional dysregulation, self-harm, borderline personality disorder, and complex trauma
I incorporate mindfulness-based treatment approaches regularly in my clinical work, both as stand-alone interventions and as complementary tools within broader modalities like CBT, ACT, and DBT. My experience includes working with clients managing anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic pain, and stress-related disorders.
"My approach to multicultural treatment therapy is rooted in cultural humility, ongoing self-reflection, and a commitment to understanding each client's unique cultural identity and lived experience. I’ve worked with clients from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, gender, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds, and I strive to ensure that therapy is a space where all aspects of a client’s identity are acknowledged, respected, and integrated into the therapeutic process.
21 ratings with written reviews
September 8, 2026
Super sweet, great listener, seems like a great fit for me!
August 31, 2026
I have tried many therapists across many different platforms, and I have never been able to stick to therapy long-term. Now that I have been meeting with Kumi regularly, I can say I get excited for my therapy appointments. I have new revelations after each session, and I get excited when thinking about the future. She is direct but helps me come to conclusions on my own, and makes me feel super empowered. 10s across the board for my girl!
June 24, 2026
I had a great conversation with her, and I cannot wait to talk again. I felt heard, and she provided thoughtful feedback. She was also very authentic, and I appreciate her for that.