Kumi Pledger, MD, LCPC
Helping clients sleep and thrive
- Guided imagery and mindfulness
- Attachment and relationship work
- CBT and skill building
About Kumi Pledger
Kumi Pledger, MD, LCPC, combines clinical training and lived experience to help people sleep better, worry less, and enjoy life more. She integrates guided imagery, mindfulness practices, and trauma work informed by Internal Family Systems to address anxiety, insomnia, unwanted behaviors, and the lasting effects of trauma. Her work weaves personal insight with professional techniques to create an environment where clients can explore patterns, reduce distress, and build practical coping skills.
Her therapeutic style is compassionate and respectful, emphasizing each person’s strengths and resources as the foundation for change. Kumi supports growth through collaborative goal-setting and skill development, helping clients move forward with increased self-understanding and resilience. She focuses on empowerment, encouraging clients to pursue goals and reconnect with sources of joy in everyday life.
Kumi sees children, adolescents, couples, families, and adults, and welcomes LGBTQ clients. She provides care for relationship challenges, support for new and expectant mothers, eating disorders, adjustment difficulties, trauma, grief, and loss. Her approach is practical and client-centered, tailored to the needs of each person and family she works with. MD indicates medical doctor and LCPC stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
Her therapeutic style is compassionate and respectful, emphasizing each person’s strengths and resources as the foundation for change. Kumi supports growth through collaborative goal-setting and skill development, helping clients move forward with increased self-understanding and resilience. She focuses on empowerment, encouraging clients to pursue goals and reconnect with sources of joy in everyday life.
Kumi sees children, adolescents, couples, families, and adults, and welcomes LGBTQ clients. She provides care for relationship challenges, support for new and expectant mothers, eating disorders, adjustment difficulties, trauma, grief, and loss. Her approach is practical and client-centered, tailored to the needs of each person and family she works with. MD indicates medical doctor and LCPC stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
Areas of Expertise
Also Specializes In
AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesCareer difficultiesBipolar disorder
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Mindfulness Therapy Narrative Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Kumi Pledger have?
Kumi Pledger has 10 years of clinical experience.
Is Kumi Pledger a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credentials MD and LCPC. MD stands for medical doctor and LCPC stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. License information: MD LCPC LC10963.
In which languages does Kumi Pledger provide therapy?
Kumi provides therapy in English and Japanese.
Where is Kumi Pledger located?
She is located in Maryland.
How can I work with Kumi Pledger as my therapist?
You can work with Kumi Pledger through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Kumi Pledger work with international clients?
Yes, Kumi Pledger works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Kumi Pledger cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Approaches, Connection, and Online Care with Kumi Pledger
Kumi Pledger draws on attachment-based therapy to explore how early relationships shape current patterns. This approach helps clients understand emotional bonds and repair relationship difficulties by strengthening safety and trust in connections.She also uses client-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathy, acceptance, and the client’s own goals. In this approach the therapist follows the client’s lead, supporting self-exploration and personal growth for issues like depression, self-esteem, and life transitions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another tool Kumi employs to identify unhelpful thoughts and build practical skills for anxiety, sleep problems, and coping with change. CBT focuses on patterns of thinking and behavior that can be adjusted through structured strategies and practice.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Kumi works with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques over time as therapy progresses.
Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit care into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and connect with a licensed professional from different locations.