Kathleen O'Connor, LICSW

Kathleen O'Connor is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with a focus on addictions, trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, and caregiver stress. She helps people facing grief, parenting strain, relationship and intimacy concerns, sleep problems, and work or career stress. Kathleen is skilled at supporting those dealing with compassion fatigue and the fallout of family of origin issues and adoption or foster care-related challenges.

She brings 25 years of direct service experience across many settings. Kathleen has worked in substance abuse treatment, psychiatric emergency rooms, criminal justice settings, dialysis clinics, nursing homes, and community programs. Her background includes work with first responders and veterans and earlier certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor in Ohio.

Kathleen’s style is interactive and goal-focused. She checks in often to make sure she understands what matters to each person. Sessions can be brief problem-solving conversations or a longer journey, depending on the goals and their complexity.

Her approach draws on client-centered methods, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral techniques, and dialectical behavior methods. She tailors what she uses to fit each person's needs and priorities rather than sticking to a single formula.

Kathleen practiced in rural and urban settings and has provided in-home therapy and community crisis work. During the pandemic she offered telehealth by phone and video. She encourages people to match the pace and length of work to their goals and to take the next step when they feel ready.

How Kathleen’s Approaches Work Online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the person's lead. The therapist supports people in naming their goals and gives space to explore what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical steps to change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, adds skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kathleen uses a collaborative process to figure out which methods fit a person's goals and preferences. She adapts techniques across sessions and checks in frequently to make sure the plan still feels helpful.

Confirm the current session options before booking so you know how sessions will be held. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. It also lets people keep a steady therapeutic relationship when moving between regions or when in-person visits are difficult. Licensed professionals, including Kathleen, discuss practical arrangements and timing during the first contacts to help match therapy to each person's routine and needs.