Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you use our links to buy.

Kathleen  McCarthy

Therapist · Wisconsin

Kathleen McCarthy LCSW

Practical therapy for trauma and life transitions

Continue with Kathleen

Review online therapy options on BetterHelp.

  • Experience34 years
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • SessionsOnline
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Goal-focused work
  • Mind-body approach

About Kathleen

Kathleen McCarthy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Wisconsin with 34 years of experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, mood concerns, trauma, and life changes. Her approach centers on practical tools and steady support so people can move forward at a realistic pace.

Kathleen blends several methods to match what a person needs. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. She also uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and hypnotherapy when trauma and difficult memories are part of the issue. Mindfulness and solution-focused work help with coping and short-term goals.

Sessions focus on clear goals and doable steps. Kathleen talks through thinking patterns, coping skills, and small behavior shifts that build toward bigger change. She also pays attention to how stress affects sleep, eating, and relationships so those areas improve alongside mood and anxiety.

People seeking help for fertility concerns, postpartum challenges, grief, addiction, or career stress will find approaches aimed at practical relief. She also supports those dealing with complicated loss, first responder strain, and veteran-related problems. Kathleen integrates mind, body, and spirit considerations into treatment when people want that perspective.

To begin, a simple matching process and scheduling step gets therapy started. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, and international clients may be served. Prospective clients should confirm current session options before booking.

How Kathleen's approaches translate to online care

EMDR is a trauma-focused method that helps process distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact. In practice it involves guided bilateral stimulation while recalling a memory, and it is often used when past events continue to cause current problems.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating problems, and for building coping skills that apply day to day.

Hypnotherapy supports concentrated relaxation and focused attention to address habits, stress reactions, and certain trauma-related symptoms. It can be paired with other approaches to reinforce behavior change and stress management.

Choosing the best approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels comfortable, then adjust methods as therapy progresses. That collaborative conversation helps find a mix of strategies that fits each person's needs.

Confirm the current online session options before booking, since formats are not listed in the biography. Online sessions can help fit therapy into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and make it easier to keep regular appointments. They also allow shorter check-ins when needed and can be scheduled around work, childcare, or medical appointments to help maintain continuity of care.

License and NPI

  • LCSW Wisconsin · No. 3630-123

NPI1346334034

As shown on the therapist's profile. You can check a license with the state board and an NPI with the national registry.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careCo-morbidityCodependencyCoping with natural or human-caused disasterEating and food-related issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesIsolation / lonelinessVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)HypnotherapyMindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

34+ years

Credentials

Wisconsin

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?

Kathleen helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, addiction concerns, grief, and parenting-related stress among other matters.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is practical and collaborative, focusing on clear goals, skills practice, and steps that fit everyday life rather than abstract theory.

What kind of experience does she bring?

She has 34 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of concerns and has focused much of her work on trauma and wellness approaches.

What credentials and where is she based?

She holds the LCSW credential as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Wisconsin and practices from that state.

Can non-U.S. clients work with her?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients; anyone interested should confirm specifics before booking.

What session formats are available?

Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific session formats.

How are fees and payment handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist scheduling; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to start therapy?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Back to all therapists

Kathleen McCarthy Review online therapy options on BetterHelp.

Continue with Kathleen