Cathy O'Brien

Cathy O'Brien is a Licensed Master Social Worker with six years of direct clinical experience. She practices from Michigan and focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, anger, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Cathy uses straightforward language and practical steps to help people who feel stuck or overwhelmed.

She builds therapy around a trusting relationship and begins by listening carefully. Cathy emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and empathy so people feel more comfortable talking about difficult topics. She often helps clients learn stress management and coping skills they can use between sessions.

Cathy draws on client-centered methods and cognitive behavioral ideas to help people notice patterns and try new behaviors. She also uses emotionally focused techniques to look at feelings and motivational interviewing to support change. Mindfulness practices are offered to help manage anxiety and strong emotions.

Her background includes work in schools and clinics and experience supporting people who have faced trauma, grief, eating concerns, ADHD, and mood challenges. Cathy has previously provided both in-person and virtual care and tailors sessions to each person’s needs.

She encourages people to see challenges as calls to action rather than insurmountable problems. Cathy aims to make the first steps feel achievable and works collaboratively to set clear, practical goals. If someone is ready to begin, she supports them in moving forward one step at a time.

How Cathy’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding each person’s experience and responding without judgment. In online conversations this means the therapist listens closely and follows the client’s priorities to guide sessions in ways that feel most useful.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. Online sessions can include exercises, homework, and step-by-step plans to practice between meetings.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people identify and work through strong emotions so they can respond differently in stressful moments. That work translates into talking through feelings, naming patterns, and practicing new emotional responses during sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the process, and Cathy works together with each person to decide which methods fit best. She will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most manageable, then adjust techniques as therapy progresses.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the available session formats before booking so you know what to expect. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, allow brief check-ins when schedules are tight, and reduce travel time. Discuss practical needs with the therapist and she will help shape sessions that fit everyday life.