- Focus on coping skills
- Values-based work
- Practical support
About Kathy
Kathy Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with four decades of experience. She helps people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. She approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. Kathy encourages small steps toward change and meets people where they are.
She believes everyone is doing the best they can with the skills they have. That belief shapes her style: practical, warm, and tailored to each person's needs. Sessions focus on conversational problem solving, identifying strengths, and building manageable coping skills.
Her work draws on several well-known therapeutic methods. Kathy uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and reduce painful avoidance. She applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try new behaviors. Mindfulness and Client-Centered ideas are woven into sessions to increase present-moment awareness and to keep the pace agreed on by the client.
Kathy has worked across varied settings over 40 years and holds licenses in North Dakota and Minnesota as an LCSW and LICSW. She often supports people dealing with caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, family history issues, and feelings of isolation or emptiness. Her practice emphasizes steady, realistic progress rather than quick fixes.
Beginning therapy with Kathy starts with a simple matching step and scheduling. She aims to adapt the conversation and the plan to what feels most useful for each person.
How these approaches can work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking committed action toward them. It helps people who feel stuck or avoidant by teaching them to notice difficult thoughts and still move toward what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. It uses simple experiments and homework to test beliefs and build new habits that reduce symptoms over time. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship and follows the client's pace and priorities.Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Kathy works collaboratively to find which methods fit a person’s goals and preferences. She adapts pacing, the balance of skill-building versus reflection, and the types of exercises used based on what the client finds helpful.
Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people practice skills in their everyday routines and bring real-life issues into conversation more quickly. Ask about session length and scheduling during the matching step so arrangements fit your needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
North Dakota, Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
Kathy regularly helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and coping with major life changes. She also focuses on codependency, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, and feelings of isolation or emptiness.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is conversational and practical. Sessions emphasize respect, sensitivity, collaborative planning, and simple skills you can try between visits.
How much experience does she bring?
She brings 40 years of professional experience in social work and clinical practice. That background informs a steady, problem-solving approach to common life challenges.
What credentials and location should I know about?
She holds LCSW and LICSW credentials and is licensed in North Dakota and Minnesota. Her listed location is North Dakota.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm specific rates and billing details during the matching process.
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.