Catherine Brenen

Catherine Brenen is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with 16 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, relationship strain, trauma, grief, and aging-related challenges. Catherine brings a warm, nonjudgmental presence to sessions and aims to help clients take practical steps toward a better daily life.

She grounds work in respect, empathy, and a faith perspective when clients want that included. Her style is engaging and direct without using fear or blame. Catherine focuses on listening first, then shaping a plan that fits each person’s needs and goals.

Catherine uses a blend of client-centered methods, cognitive-behavioral tools, dialectical skills, mindfulness practices, and motivational strategies. She can also incorporate psychodynamic ideas when that helps make sense of patterns. Sessions are tailored so conversations and homework match what each person can realistically try.

In practice she helps people manage anger, improve communication, address substance use, and navigate life transitions like divorce or caregiving. She works on coping skills, mood stabilization, and building healthier habits over time. Catherine also supports people dealing with attachment or personality-related concerns.

Her approach emphasizes collaboration - clients set goals and she helps map the steps. The aim is steady progress, not quick fixes. Catherine encourages small, sustainable changes that improve daily functioning and relationships.

Approaches that translate well to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, understanding, and helping clients set their own goals. It is useful for people who want a supportive space to talk through stress, grief, relationship strain, or general life changes.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns. It can help with anxiety, depression, anger, and coping with triggers. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving communication, which can be helpful for strong anger responses, relationship conflict, and impulsive behaviors.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Catherine will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She adapts techniques so they make sense for the client’s daily life and pace.

Confirm the therapist's current session options before booking to know which online formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Many people find they can practice skills between sessions more easily when therapy fits into their normal routine.