Cathy Bottrell

Experienced LICSW blending CBT and compassion

LICSW, LCSW District of Columbia

Experience: 23 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Cathy

Cathy Bottrell is a licensed social worker who draws on 23 years of clinical experience to help people navigate grief, illness, and major life transitions. She integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with acceptance-based and client-centered methods to address depression, anxiety, stress, and behavioral changes related to health and loss.

Background and approach

Cathy brings practical skills for coping with intimacy-related concerns, addiction issues, sleep disturbance, parenting challenges, and career or role transitions. Her practice also attends to a wide range of related concerns including adoption and foster care matters, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, family of origin issues, and fertility or commitment difficulties.

Cathy offers counseling for teens and adults, providing a compassionate, steady presence for processing past experiences and building tools for the present. She works with clients dealing with LGBT issues, trauma and abuse, anger, and compassion fatigue, tailoring an approach that balances evidence-based techniques and mindful awareness.

Located in the District of Columbia, Cathy combines decades of hands-on clinical work with an empathetic, client-centered stance to support people through change. She invites prospective clients to take the first step toward managing current struggles and preparing for future challenges.

Evidence-Informed Therapies Delivered Online

CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning; it can be useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping with life changes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy emphasizes clarifying personal values and learning to accept difficult internal experiences while taking committed action toward meaningful goals, which can help with grief, chronic health concerns, and emotional avoidance.

Deciding which approach to use is collaborative. The therapist will work with each client to explore goals, preferences, and responses to different techniques, adjusting the approach as therapy progresses to find the best fit for the individual's needs.

Online sessions are offered in multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate varied schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care while balancing work, family, or health demands, and they allow licensed professionals to deliver structured, skills-based work and supportive counseling across distances.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns can Cathy help with?

Cathy works with issues such as grief, anxiety, depression, stress, addictions, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, and a variety of life transition challenges.

What therapeutic style does she use?

The approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered techniques, and mindfulness practices to address thoughts, behaviors, and values.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 23 years of experience as a clinical social worker and therapist working with a broad range of behavioral health and adjustment concerns.

What credentials and location are listed?

She holds LICSW and LCSW credentials with license details DC LICSW LC3000734 and VA LCSW 0904005185 and practices in the District of Columbia.

Are sessions available in other languages?

Therapy is offered in English only and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

Which session formats are offered?

Clients can work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preferences and availability.

How are costs and subscriptions handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions operate through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivity Isolation / lonelinessLife purposePanic disorder and panic attacksSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness Therapy

Experience

23+ years

Licensed

Virginia, District of Columbia

Languages

English