Excellent
Cathy O'Brien, LMSW
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Cathy is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Cathy. View 7 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Michigan
Recent reviews
Cathy has been AMAZING for my emotional and mental health. My Mama passed away a little over 2 months ago. I sought out therapy pretty quickly after her death because I became so deeply depressed for the first time in my life. I had never been in therapy before and was pretty hesitant. But I needed and wanted help digging myself out of that darkness and allowing myself to get back to feeling like ME! Cathy helped me do just that. She gave me tips, tricks, techniques and practice to work on to help my depression and anxiety. I'm obviously still very sad, my Mama was my best friend. But I'm finally feeling like life is worth living again. She's a wonderful listener, we hit it off pretty much right off the bat, and I felt so comfortable with her. I could tell she truly cared about me as a patient. I'm so happy I had her as a therapist, and I can 1000% say therapy has been so helpful to my life, and in so happy to be feeling like ME again.
More about Cathy
- 6 years' experience
- Female
- LMSW
Hello, my name is Cathy O'Brien. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Michigan. I earned my LMSW from Michigan State University in 2011 and have over 10 years experience working in the mental health field in numerous capacities. My experience includes, but is not limited to, working with children, families as well as individuals with a wide range of concerns including: depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, relationship and/or self esteem issues. I am trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and have worked with many people who have experienced trauma such as abuse or grief. In addition, I have worked with people to help them establish stress management skills to help them overcome challenges and cope with whatever life throws their way. One of my favorite quotes by Catherine Pulsifer that I like to share says "We are all faced with challenges at some point in our life, challenges that we did not create. Challenges that happened beyond our control. The difference is how we respond to these challenges. You can adopt the attitude that there is nothing you can do, or you can see the challenge as your call to action."
I understand that talking to a stranger can be very uncomfortable and a scary and it is for that reason that I begin by developing a trusting therapeutic relationship in an effort to make you feel more safe and comfortable. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity and empathy. My approach combines a mixture of therapies (CBT, TF-CBT, MI, Solution Focused) based in the needs of the individual I am working with. As a result of COVID and some of the changes it brought, I have done this work both face-to-face in an school/clinic setting as well as virtually.
It takes a lot of courage to step outside your comfort level, acknowledge and ask for help. If you are ready to take the first steps toward your 'call to action', I will offer you support. I look forward to working with you!
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Family conflicts
Anger management
Depression
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Eating disorders
Parenting issues
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
ADHD
Adoption and foster care
Attachment issues
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Control issues
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Family problems
Impulsivity
Mood disorders
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Post-traumatic stress
Self-harm
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia
Trichotillomania
Young adult issues
Treatment Approaches
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Cathy O'Brien's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1639592355.
- LMSW · Michigan · 6801093174 · Expires May 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.
Reviews for Cathy O'Brien
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Excellent
Cathy has been AMAZING for my emotional and mental health. My Mama passed away a little over 2 months ago. I sought out therapy pretty quickly after her death because I became so deeply depressed for the first time in my life. I had never been in therapy before and was pretty hesitant. But I needed and wanted help digging myself out of that darkness and allowing myself to get back to feeling like ME! Cathy helped me do just that. She gave me tips, tricks, techniques and practice to work on to help my depression and anxiety. I'm obviously still very sad, my Mama was my best friend. But I'm finally feeling like life is worth living again. She's a wonderful listener, we hit it off pretty much right off the bat, and I felt so comfortable with her. I could tell she truly cared about me as a patient. I'm so happy I had her as a therapist, and I can 1000% say therapy has been so helpful to my life, and in so happy to be feeling like ME again.
Cathy always helps me see things from a different perspective. Whether it’s different ways to view the problem or different approaches to solving it, she always helps me understand it and also explain it in a way that I would not have thought of.
She is a great person and has good insight
Cathy O'Brien is a great listener and provides plenty of worksheets and exercises to help with growth. She also checks in between visits and I find that really helped me stay focused on developing myself.
Cathy has been very helpful to me as I sort out a chaotic pandemic-style life!
She is very understanding thinks of helpful ways to assist you. Always on time for sessions. Works well with others has great people skills.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cathy O'Brien offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Cathy O'Brien works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Cathy O'Brien speak?
Cathy O'Brien speaks English.
How many years of experience does Cathy O'Brien have?
Cathy O'Brien has 6 years of experience.
Where is Cathy O'Brien licensed to practice?
Cathy O'Brien is licensed to practice in Michigan.
Does Cathy O'Brien accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Cathy O'Brien does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Cathy O'Brien offer?
Cathy O'Brien offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Cathy O'Brien?
Cathy O'Brien can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Cathy O'Brien?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.