Kathleen Cates-Richardson, LMFT

Kathleen Cates-Richardson is a licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, and relationship concerns. She brings 16 years of clinical experience and aims to create an open space where clients can share thoughts and feelings without judgment. Kathleen encourages small, practical steps toward better daily functioning and emotional relief.

She favors a collaborative approach that centers the client's needs and goals. Sessions often begin by listening closely to what matters most, then working together to set realistic next steps. That might include building coping skills for sleep problems, addressing intimacy concerns, or developing strategies to reduce substance use.

Kathleen draws on a mix of approaches, including client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral methods, dialectical behavior tools, emotionally focused work, and existential perspectives. She uses these methods to help clients notice patterns, manage strong emotions, and strengthen relationships with themselves and others.

Her background includes practice in both Iowa and Arizona, and she has supported people through trauma, domestic violence, divorce, and caregiving stress. Kathleen also helps clients facing life transitions such as aging, adoption and foster care challenges, cancer, and recovery from disaster-related losses.

Sessions are conducted in English, and she is able to work with people outside the United States. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on building a respectful, listening relationship where the client sets the pace and topics. It helps when someone needs a nonjudgmental space to talk through feelings and decide next steps. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and addiction-related habits.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and daily routines, then suggest which methods to try first. Clients and the therapist review progress together and adjust the plan as needed to match what actually helps.

Session format options are not specified in the biography, so confirm the available formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow for quicker check-ins during a work break. It can also allow people who live outside the therapist's immediate region to connect with licensed professionals in different locations.