- ACT and CBT
- DBT skills
- Guilt and shame focus
About Kathleen
Kathleen Carter is an Illinois licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 20 years of professional experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, depression, and life changes. Kathleen also addresses caregiver stress, communication problems, forgiveness, guilt and shame, isolation, life purpose, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and social anxiety.
She uses approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. In sessions she listens and helps people name what matters to them. She helps clients notice thoughts and patterns that keep them stuck, and then practices ways to respond differently.
Kathleen aims for straightforward, practical work. That can include skills for managing strong emotions, steps to rebuild confidence, and short strategies to handle anxious moments. For grief and loss she focuses on coping strategies and gradual rebuilding of routines and meaning.
When guilt or shame are present she helps people talk through the memories and the self-critical thoughts that follow. She works to separate behavior from identity and to find realistic steps forward instead of getting stuck in blame.
Initial steps typically include clarifying the most urgent concern, setting small goals, and choosing one or two skills to try between sessions. Kathleen uses both brief problem-focused work and longer therapeutic conversations, depending on what each person needs.
How Kathleen uses evidence-based approaches online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking committed action toward them while learning to live with difficult thoughts. It can be helpful for guilt, shame, anxiety, and struggles over meaning. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and test new ways of responding to situations, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and self-critical thinking. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) includes concrete emotional-regulation and distress-tolerance skills that can reduce intense reactions and help manage overwhelming shame or anxiety.Figuring out the best approach is part of the work. Kathleen will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She can start with short, focused strategies and adjust toward longer-term work when needed, based on what the client finds most helpful.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy day by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, and letting people join from quieter surroundings. Finding a rhythm that matches work, caregiving, or other commitments is often an important practical benefit when working with licensed professionals online.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes, plus related issues such as caregiver stress, communication problems, and guilt and shame.
How would she approach feelings of shame or guilt?
She uses approaches like CBT and ACT to notice self-critical thoughts and untangle behavior from identity, then works on practical steps to reduce rumination and move forward.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
She has 20 years of professional experience working with adults on mood, anxiety, grief, and related concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois.
Does she hold sessions in other languages or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.