Therapist profile
Kathleen Cooley, LMSW
LMSW helping with family and parenting concerns
Continue with KathleenAbout
- CBT techniques
- Trauma-focused work
- Video preferred
About Kathleen
Kathleen Cooley is an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) with 40 years of social work experience in Michigan. She works with common family and parenting concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, and trauma. She also helps with mood issues, ADHD, career stress, and life changes.
Her style is straightforward and practical. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques and incorporates reality-oriented ideas along with other methods as needed. Kathleen prefers working in video sessions because she values seeing people as they talk, though she can also use phone or text when necessary.
Her background includes work in schools, college settings, and adult services. She has supported people across a wide range of needs, from adjustment difficulties to severe mental illness. She has specific experience helping those affected by sexual and other abuses, suicidality, grief, selective mutism, and end-of-life concerns.
Sessions tend to focus on clear, doable steps rather than abstract theory. Kathleen often uses CBT-style tools to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. She also applies trauma-focused ideas when someone is coping with traumatic memories and reactions.
Clients can expect someone who listens, asks direct questions, and offers concrete techniques to try between meetings. She is open to mixing approaches based on what the person says is working. To begin, the process involves a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and helps people notice how those patterns affect current family and parenting stress. It aims to improve understanding of connection and distance in everyday interactions. Client-Centered Therapy centers on the person's experience and listening. In practice this means the therapist reflects what is said and follows the person's concerns rather than imposing a rigid plan. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, parenting stress, and coping with life changes by setting small, testable tasks between sessions. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Kathleen will collaborate with the person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That decision can shift as progress is made. Video sessions are preferred so the therapist can see nonverbal cues during conversations, but she mentioned phone and text as alternate ways to connect. Confirm the current session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time while keeping therapeutic momentum.Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family or parenting concerns does she address?
She works with parenting stress, family conflict, communication problems, and related relationship strain listed under her specialties.
How would you describe her therapeutic approach?
Her approach is practical and eclectic with a strong focus on cognitive behavioral techniques and elements of reality-oriented work and trauma-focused methods.
How much experience does she have working with clients?
She has 40 years of experience as a social worker in a range of settings including schools, colleges, and adult services.
What credentials and location are on record?
She is an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) licensed in Michigan and practices from that state.
Does she work in languages other than English or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not accept international clients at this time.
Which session formats does she use?
She prefers video meetings so she can see clients, and she can also use phone or text when needed; confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to start working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
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.