Kathleen Puleo

Kathleen Puleo is a California psychologist who helps people take the first steps when life feels overwhelming. She works with stress, anxiety, relationships, anger, self-esteem, and major life changes. Her manner is direct and compassionate, aimed at practical change rather than jargon.

With 19 years of experience as a CA Psychologist (license 22642), she draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques. Sessions focus on identifying unhelpful thinking, developing clearer communication, and building concrete coping skills. Kathleen also uses mindfulness practices to support calmer responses to stress and anxiety.

In relationship work she concentrates on improving emotional connection and communication skills. For parenting concerns she helps parents set boundaries, manage conflict, and strengthen routines that support family resilience. When anger is an issue, she teaches strategies for noticing triggers and expressing feelings in safer ways.

She also supports people facing grief, career transitions, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar concerns, ADHD, and body image or self-worth struggles. Additional focus areas include attachment and abandonment concerns, impulsivity, and forgiveness work.

Kathleen approaches therapy as a collaboration. She tailors the plan to each person’s goals and pace, and she encourages practical exercises between sessions. To begin, clients choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

How evidence-based techniques translate to online work

Many of the techniques Kathleen uses help people notice thoughts and change reactions. One common method she uses focuses on identifying and reframing unhelpful thinking patterns to reduce anxiety and mood symptoms; this helps with panic, worry, and rumination by teaching concrete steps to challenge negative thoughts. Another commonly used approach is mindfulness-based practice, which builds simple attention and breathing skills to reduce reactivity and support calmer responses during stressful moments.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, life demands, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust them over time based on how well they work for the client.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm session options before booking as this profile does not list specific formats. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and reduce travel time. It also lets people use therapy from different locations within their daily routine, which can help maintain consistency when life is busy. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and mindfulness practices so they work well in remote sessions.