Karly Derrigo is a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and a doctoral-level counseling intern at CEDAR. She specializes in treating eating disorders as well as co-occurring anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in adolescents, transition-aged youth, and adults.
Karly receives clinical supervision in Family-Based Treatment (FBT) from Julie Guild, LCSW, CFBT, and from Dr. Rachel Gow, Ph.D., in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) and other evidence-based approaches, as she advances toward licensure.
Her clinical approach is grounded in evidence-based treatments and informed by experience in residential, outpatient, and university counseling settings. Karly integrates behavioral, cognitive, and family-based strategies to help clients and families build structure, reduce avoidance or accommodation, and increase psychological flexibility throughout recovery. She places strong emphasis on clear communication, consistent boundaries, and developmentally appropriate caregiver involvement when working with families.
Karly has worked in diverse clinical environments including McLean Hospital’s OCD Institute and Walden Behavioral Care’s eating disorder programs, gaining broad exposure to complex clinical presentations and multidisciplinary treatment models.
At CEDAR, Karly brings warmth, insight, and dedication to supporting clients and families on their path to recovery. She is committed to fostering an inclusive, compassionate, and collaborative therapeutic space where clients feel empowered to grow and heal.
University Counseling Services at VCU. She also contributes to research through the Mazzeo Lab and the Healthy Lifestyles Center at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond.
Before her doctoral studies, Karly earned an M.S. in Psychology from Drexel University, conducting ecological momentary assessment research on binge eating. At Drexel’s WELL Center, she supported NIH-funded studies on food addiction, ultra-processed foods, and disordered eating in populations such as those with PCOS.
Karly is committed to integrating research and clinical practice to improve recovery outcomes and support individuals and families with clarity, structure, and compassion.