Kathleen Cooley
Experienced social worker with practical CBT focus
LMSW Michigan
- Experience
- 40 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Kathleen
Kathleen Cooley is an experienced licensed social worker with 40 years in a range of practice settings and a continued interest in part-time clinical work.
Background and approach
She focuses on concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, parenting and family issues, anger, self-esteem, career challenges, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and ADHD. Additional interests include aging and geriatric matters, attachment issues, autism and Asperger Syndrome, caregiver stress, codependency, communication problems, divorce and separation, and end-of-life counseling.
Her approach is grounded in practical, skill-based work with an emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside attachment-informed and client-centered methods. Kathleen describes her style as eclectic and adaptable, drawing on solution-focused and trauma-focused techniques when helpful and tailoring interventions to each person’s needs.
She has training in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD and experience across the lifespan, including work with children in schools, college students, adults with severe mental illness, and those facing adjustment difficulties. Kathleen values establishing a respectful, attentive space where people feel heard as they explore their concerns.
She prefers video-based sessions to maintain visual connection, while also offering phone, live chat, and text-based messaging when that better suits a client’s needs.
Integrating evidence-based approaches with online care
Kathleen combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Attachment-Based and client-centered elements to guide online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and learning practical skills to shift patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and coping difficulties. Attachment-Based approaches explore relationship patterns and early bonds to help improve emotional connection and communication within current relationships. Client-Centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so that the person’s priorities drive the pace and focus of sessions.Choosing the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Kathleen works with each individual to assess goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, adapting techniques over time rather than insisting on a single method. This helps ensure therapy fits the client’s needs and evolves with progress.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions are preferred to preserve face-to-face interaction, while phone or messaging options allow scheduling convenience and support between meetings. These formats make it easier to access care from home or work and to continue therapy when life circumstances change.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she support?
What is her therapeutic style?
How much clinical experience does she have?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Which session formats are available?
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
What are the steps to begin working together?
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Licensed
Michigan
Languages
English