About Kathleen
Kathleen O'Connor is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with a 25-year history of working with people facing anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and other life stressors. She meets people where they are and helps them move toward clearer goals. Her approach is collaborative and practical.
She draws on client-centered methods to build a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship. Kathleen uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
Background and approach
She also integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for strong emotion regulation and mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity. Kathleen has worked in many settings, including substance abuse treatment, psychiatric emergency rooms, dialysis clinics, and community programs. Her background includes roles in rural and urban areas, inpatient nursing home social services, and crisis response.
That range informs how she adapts care to different situations. Her style is interactive and direct. She checks in often during sessions to make sure she understands what matters to the client.
Sessions can be short-term problem solving or a longer process depending on the issue and goals. Kathleen values sensitivity, respect, and avoiding stigmatizing labels. She tailors conversations and plans using motivational interviewing and evidence-based techniques.
People who want practical strategies for anxiety, grief, addiction, sleep, parenting stress, or career shifts may find this approach helpful.
How her approaches fit with online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a respectful, understanding relationship. In practice this means sessions begin by listening closely to what matters to the person and shaping goals together, which helps when addressing anxiety or grief. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches specific skills for change; it is useful for anxiety, sleep problems, and mood concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for managing strong emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness and can be helpful for people who feel easily overwhelmed.Choosing the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about their needs, goals, and preferences and then try techniques that fit. Progress is reviewed regularly and the plan is adjusted based on what is working and what is not.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people use visual cues and practice new skills in real time. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for times when a camera is not wanted. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, skill reminders, or when writing helps organize thoughts. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy days and to keep continuity when life gets in the way.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Bipolar disorder
Also listed
- ADHD
- Adoption and foster care
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Stress, Anxiety
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 25 years
- Licensed
- Massachusetts
- Languages
- English
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