Therapist profile
Cathy Bottrell, LICSW, LCSW
Licensed clinical social worker - grief and life transitions
Continue with CathyAbout
- Grief and loss
- Adjustment to illness
- Parenting stress
About Cathy
Cathy Bottrell is a licensed independent clinical social worker - LICSW and a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW with 23 years of experience in mental health care in the District of Columbia. She helps people coping with grief and loss, adjustment to illness, depression, anxiety, and life transitions. Cathy also addresses adoption and foster care concerns and issues related to HIV/AIDS as part of her practice.
Cathy uses straightforward conversation to help people sort through painful events and changes. Sessions are practical and paced to the person in front of her. She listens for what feels most urgent and offers ways to manage symptoms and make everyday life a little easier.
Her work draws on cognitive behavioral ideas and acceptance and commitment approaches, plus client-centered and mindfulness methods. That blend supports coping skills, clearer thinking, and noticing what matters most when life feels unstable. She explains techniques in plain language and practices them together with the person she sees.
Cathy has long experience helping adults handle parenting stress, relationship tensions, and career or caregiving pressures. She also addresses intimacy-related concerns, sleep problems, anger, and addictions in counseling conversations.
People who come for help can expect a steady, practical approach focused on small steps that build over time. To begin, she asks about current struggles and what the person wants to change, then suggests ways to proceed.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Online sessions can include talking through situations, practicing new skills, and setting small experiments to try between meetings.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on clarifying values and committing to actions that matter. In remote sessions Cathy can guide mindfulness exercises, values clarification, and practical steps to reduce avoidance and increase meaningful activity.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Cathy will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She checks in about what is or isn’t helpful and adjusts the plan as needed.
The biography does not list explicit session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people choose virtual sessions to fit counseling into work days, school schedules, or caregiving routines. Others prefer an option that avoids video and uses phone for a shorter check-in. Talk with Cathy about what fits your schedule and daily life.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Virginia, District of Columbia
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she address that relate to family life?
She helps people with parenting stress, family problems, and family of origin issues among other concerns.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She practices in a practical, conversational way using client-centered, CBT, ACT, and mindfulness methods to teach coping skills and clarify values.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 23 years of experience working as a clinical social worker and therapist in a range of settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds DC LICSW and VA LCSW credentials and practices from the District of Columbia.
Does she offer sessions in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions structured and what formats are offered?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Ask about video or phone options when you reach out.
How do fees and billing work for her practice?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.