KS Portrait of Kathryn Shafer

Kathryn Shafer, LMFT

Calm, practical support for everyday anxiety

10 years in practice · based in California · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Kathryn

Kathryn Shafer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with ten years of clinical experience in California. She focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, rebuild confidence, and handle life transitions. Her approach is practical and respectful.

She aims to tailor sessions to each person's needs and goals. She often works with concerns about relationships, family tensions, and parenting challenges. Kathryn also supports people facing mood issues such as depression and bipolar mood swings, as well as difficulties with eating, body image, and self-esteem.

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Background and approach

She addresses symptoms like panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, and social anxiety in straightforward ways. In sessions she emphasizes clear, collaborative planning. Conversations are shaped around what the client wants to change and steps they can try between meetings.

Kathryn prioritizes empathy and sensitivity while helping people practice new skills and habits. She pays attention to practical obstacles too, including work and career stress, feelings of isolation, and the demands of blended families. For people with ADHD, impulsivity or motivation problems, she focuses on realistic strategies they can use day to day.

Kathryn aims to empower clients to make manageable changes. She encourages small, measurable steps and checks in on progress. Her goal is to help people feel more able to cope, make choices that suit them, and move toward a life that feels more balanced.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online care

Kathryn uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on skills you can use outside sessions. One common approach helps people recognize unhelpful thinking patterns and try more balanced ways of thinking; this can reduce anxiety and improve mood. Another approach emphasizes behavioral steps and gradual exposure to feared situations, which can help with panic, social anxiety, and avoidance patterns.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Kathryn will work with each person to figure out what methods match their goals, needs, and comfort level. She adjusts the plan as progress is made and encourages clients to give feedback about what is or isn’t working.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls allow fuller face-to-face interaction for skills practice and deeper conversation. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited or when a quick check-in fits a busy day. Live chat and text-based messaging make it possible to share thoughts between sessions and get brief support without scheduling a full call. These options help people fit therapy into work, parenting, or school schedules while keeping consistent care.
Explore online therapy options See what online therapy involves and what your next steps would be.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Kathryn help with?
She addresses stress and anxiety along with relationship and family tensions. Other areas include self-esteem, depression, eating and body image issues, and mood disorders.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and practical. Sessions focus on clear goals, skill practice, and steps clients can try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has ten years of professional experience working with a variety of concerns in California.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - practicing in California.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to get started?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
10 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English

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