Throughout my career, I have gained experience working with individuals who struggle with issues stemming from substance abuse, LGBTQIA+ issues, personality disorders, and coping with depression and anxiety. In my practice, I utilize current evidence-based interventions and research to help clients experience healing that involves engaging both the mind and the body. Rather than focusing on symptoms alone, I apply a comprehensive approach that considers how the complexity of an individual’s behavior is uniquely affected by their social, cultural, and biological environments.
My goal is to create a safe space for learning how to navigate life’s challenges with resilience. This begins by building a therapeutic relationship of mutual respect, trust, and collaboration. My practice is guided by intention and respect for individualized goals and needs; therefore, building a solid foundation is integral in helping clients become the healthiest version of themselves. Working together, let’s uncover the intricacies of your mind’s inner-workings to find solutions, tear down the barriers that have come between you and your goals, and get you functioning at your best!
Do you find yourself unable to control feelings of worry, fear, and restlessness? Anxiety can interfere with life by causing a persistent feeling of being out of control, powerless, irritable, and on edge. In some cases, it can even cause physical symptoms like rapid heart rate, sweating, tremors, heaving breathing, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and concentration difficulties. To find peace from anxiety, we will work together to ease your mind and find solutions to help get your life back on track. In struggling with anxiety, you are not alone, finding the root cause and building a sense of resilience will allow you to tackle anxiety head-on.
Depression can transform one’s day-to-day life into a mundane pattern of feeling down, irritable, unmotivated, numb, and alone. At school and work, depression can cause a decrease in interest, difficulty engaging or concentrating, and a lack of motivation. In relationships, depression can cause disconnect, isolation, conflict, arguments, and communication difficulties. In some cases, depression can affect an individual’s sleep patterns, appetite, sex drive, and can even lead to thoughts of suicide. Although these are all normal indicators of depression, there is hope for a better way of life! In combination with evidence-based techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, together we can work towards reframing negative thoughts and healing from complications associated with depression.
I believe that many of our behaviors today are learned from how we experienced abuse and neglect, traumatic events, and stressful periods in our childhoods and adult lives. Intrusive memories, like dreams and flashbacks, and hypersensitivity to reminders of stressful events, like physical reactions and being easily startled, can stem from the trauma we experienced in our past. Further, unresolved trauma can shape our lives by causing avoidant behaviors, negative beliefs, and feeling unsafe in our environment. Working together, we will create a positive and safe environment where you can establish a sense of strength and resilience to help treat unresolved trauma, process emotions, and reconnect with yourself and others.
After several years of working with individuals who struggle with addiction or substance use disorders, I believe that recovering from addiction is possible! By utilizing a strengths-based perspective and integrating evidence-based techniques like motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy we can work towards uncovering the underlying causes of your addiction. In my experience working with clients battling addiction, clients can relieve their suffering and learn new ways of coping with life's challenges.
Are you a personstrugglingwith life's transitions, constant changes, and the emotional struggles that children often experience as they become adults? The good news is: that your experiences are normal! The confusion and challenges that we face during adolescence are all part of a journey toward findingindependenceand identity. Thankfully, you don't have to walk this path alone. In my workwith adolescents, I am dedicated to helping you find the most authentic version of yourself in a non-judgemental and compassionate environment. Using evidence-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DialecticalBehavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I can help you become empoweredto take on difficult transitions and obstacles. One size doesn't fit all, so I like to cater my approach to each person's individualneeds and goals. Together we can find a healthier and happier way of life!
CBT is a type of therapy that involves analyzing the interconnectedness between an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through reframing automatic negative thoughts, and irrational beliefs, and altering one’s core beliefs, the individual is better equipped to come up with realistic cognitions and regulate their reactions.
DBT is a more structured and modified form of CBT that involves four main parts: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Through identifying cycles and patterns in our behaviors, DBT helps the individual come up with different approaches to managing life’s stressors, handling crises, understanding emotions, and managing relationships.
EFT is a type of couple’s therapy that analyzes the way attachment styles affect our behavior in relationships. By integrating concepts from attachment theory, couples are able to analyze the types of bonds we form in relationships and how we tend to go about resolving conflict. Using EFT, I can help couples reconnect by finding new and healthier ways to communicate and feel more securely attached in their relationship.
In my practice, I use LGBT affirmative therapy to provide a safe and welcoming environment for both individuals and couples to feel empowered in their identities. By validating and accepting diverse identities, I utilize LGBT affirmative therapy to foster a sense of resilience, empowerment, and self-acceptance in my practice with individuals who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community.
I work with my clients to explore and address anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, life transitions, and relationship/family issues. Together, we discover the impact of these stressors and find answers to reach the client's goals. I offer guidance and support to help the client find their unique path to healing.
I am here to assist you in discovering the changes you desire and support you throughout your healing journey. No matter what challenges you may be experiencing, I am here to lend an ear and help you find the way towards a more positive future. This is where I come in and help guide you.
Please do not hesitate to contact me for a free 20-minute consultation.
Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes/$140 per session and couples sessions are 50 minutes/$170 per session.
Email: mytherapist@kathlynngates.com
Phone #: (949) 342-6004
