- Stress and anxiety
- Family of origin issues
- ACT and CBT methods
About Kathy
Kathy Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) licensed in North Dakota and Minnesota with 40 years of experience. She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. Her practice also addresses family of origin issues and related concerns such as caregiver stress, codependency, and feelings of emptiness.
Kathy uses straightforward conversation and practical tools rather than jargon. Sessions focus on what is happening now and how past family roles and expectations may still influence daily choices. She listens to what a person describes, then helps identify small, concrete changes to try between meetings.
Her approach draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, client-centered methods, and motivational interviewing. That mix is used to help people notice patterns, test new behaviors, and build persistence through setbacks. Sessions often include exercises to clarify values and manageable steps for change.
Kathy has four decades of practice in community and clinical settings across North Dakota and Minnesota. She brings long-term experience with both mood and life-transition issues, and with concerns that arise around aging, chronic illness, and caregiving roles. Her style is practical and steady, aimed at making everyday life more manageable.
To begin, she asks people to describe the immediate problem and what they hope will be different. From there she and the client set short-term goals and adjust the plan as needed.
How Kathy integrates therapeutic approaches in online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is often used for anxiety, grief, and life-change decisions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers concrete exercises to change patterns that maintain depression or worry. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so a person can clarify priorities and make decisions at their own pace.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Kathy treats the selection as collaborative. She will talk with each person about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust based on what helps in real life.
Confirm the specific session formats Kathy currently offers before booking, since formats are not listed in the profile. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Kathy will discuss how to structure appointments so they fit everyday routines and the aims you set together.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
North Dakota, Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
Kathy works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. She also addresses family of origin issues and related topics such as caregiver stress and codependency.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses plain conversation and practical tools. The focus is on identifying current patterns and testing small, achievable changes.
How much experience does she have?
She has 40 years of professional work experience across clinical and community settings in North Dakota and Minnesota.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LCSW and LICSW credentials and practices in North Dakota with licensure noted for Minnesota as well.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients.
How are sessions structured and what formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking as formats are not specified in the profile. The therapist asks about the immediate problem and collaborates on short-term goals during early sessions.
How are fees handled and how do I start?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.