- Addictions and recovery
- Relationship concerns
- Depression and sleep
About Kathleen
Kathleen Cates-Richardson is a licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on helping people through addiction, relationship strain, trauma, depression, sleep problems, and intimacy concerns. She brings 16 years of practice to sessions and aims to make it easier for clients to take the first step toward change.
She emphasizes an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can talk about their thoughts and feelings. Conversations are paced to match what each person needs, and Kathleen works alongside clients to identify practical steps they can try between sessions. The goal is to help people feel more in control and more understood.
Her background includes work across common areas such as grief, anxiety, and coping with drug and alcohol addiction. She also addresses concerns like abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, aging, autism and Asperger syndrome, and caregiver stress. These topics often come up with relationship and emotional challenges, and she helps people sort through them in straightforward terms.
Kathleen uses a mix of approaches to fit different needs, including client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior ideas, emotionally focused strategies, and existential perspectives. She adapts these tools to each person’s goals rather than applying a single method to everyone.
Sessions are offered in English and Kathleen is licensed in Iowa and Arizona as an LMFT. People interested in working together are encouraged to consider whether her style and focus match their needs before scheduling.
How Kathleen’s approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what a person says so they feel heard. This approach helps when someone needs a supportive space to make sense of difficult feelings about relationships or grief.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behavior and tests small changes to reduce symptoms like depression and sleep trouble. It often includes practical exercises and homework between sessions to reinforce new habits.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, brings skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It teaches techniques for distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and clearer communication.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Kathleen will discuss goals and preferences and recommend which methods to try first. Sessions can be adjusted over time based on what helps most and what fits a person's life.
Because the biography does not list specific session formats, confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to work well at a distance while focusing on practical changes that carry into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Credentials
Iowa, Arizona
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with addictions, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, depression, and sleep problems. Additional focuses include abandonment, adoption and foster care, aging, autism and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her work is client-centered and collaborative. She combines cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, emotionally focused, and existential approaches to fit each person's needs.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings 16 years of professional experience to her practice. That experience spans grief, anxiety, addiction work, and relationship concerns.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an LMFT licensed in Arizona and Iowa and practices from Iowa. The credential listed is LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. She also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. Please check the platform or contact the matching service to verify how sessions are held.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.