- CBT informed
- Mindfulness work
- Emotion-focused
About Cathy
Cathy O'Brien is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with six years of direct clinical experience. She lists anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and abuse, and social anxiety and phobia among the concerns she addresses. Cathy emphasizes building trust early and aims to make first appointments less intimidating for people who find talking to a stranger difficult.
She uses a mix of approaches drawn from client-centered work, cognitive behavioral ideas, emotionally-focused techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. In sessions she helps people identify patterns that keep problems going and then practices concrete skills to change those patterns. She also supports people who need strategies for grief, parenting strain, eating concerns, and mood instability.
Cathy has worked in school and clinic settings and has experience with adoption and foster care, attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, panic, post-traumatic stress, and self-harm. Her background includes offering stress management and coping tools for life changes and difficult circumstances.
Her style is direct and practical. Sessions often include short skill-building exercises, guided reflection, and planning small steps to test changes between meetings. She pays attention to how emotions show up in relationships and daily life and uses that information to guide next steps.
People who prefer clear, stepwise work and a therapist who combines talking with practice-oriented techniques may find her approach helpful. Because services are provided from Michigan, sessions follow state practice rules and are conducted in English.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person’s perspective so the therapist follows the client’s lead; this helps when people need a gentle way to talk about anxiety or social fears. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down thoughts and behaviors into parts and practices new responses, which is useful for panic, OCD patterns, and social anxiety. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at how feelings appear in relationships and daily life and helps people notice and shift interaction patterns that keep problems going.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Cathy will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals and preferences, adjusting techniques as progress is made. That decision happens together and can change over time based on what helps most.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, or allow for a quicker check-in during a workday break. They also let therapists use screen sharing, worksheets, and guided exercises during the meeting so skills can be practiced in real time.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and related concerns such as panic, OCD patterns, grief, and social anxiety and phobia.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style mixes client-centered conversation with skill practice from cognitive behavioral and emotionally-focused approaches. Sessions include reflection plus exercises to try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of clinical experience working in school and clinic settings and other mental health roles.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She holds an LMSW, which is a Licensed Master Social Worker, and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.