- 25 years experience
- LMFT California
- Focus on relationships
About Cathleen
Cathleen Stafford is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 25 years of experience. She centers each session on the person in front of her and believes people are the experts on their own lives. Cathleen encourages small, steady steps and recognition of existing strengths to face hard problems.
She uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful, listening-based space. That approach means the therapist follows the client’s lead and helps them make sense of what they want. Cathleen also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and try new behavior patterns.
Emotionally-Focused Therapy informs her work around close relationships and intimacy. She helps people notice emotional patterns and practice new ways of connecting. Internal Family Systems ideas are used when parts of a person’s inner life feel at odds with each other.
Practical, short-term tools from Solution-Focused Therapy are available when the goal is clear and specific. These can help when someone wants a fast way to test a change and check progress. Cathleen works with common life challenges such as stress, anxiety, parenting strain, depression, and relationship concerns.
Her experience also includes blended family issues, caregiver stress, communication problems, divorce and separation, family of origin concerns, forgiveness and infidelity, life purpose and midlife changes, postpartum depression, veteran and armed forces issues, social anxiety, women’s issues, and young adult concerns.
How Cathleen’s Approaches Work Online
Cathleen blends client-centered care with practical techniques to meet each person where they are. Client-Centered Therapy is about listening closely and following the client’s lead to uncover what matters most. It helps when someone needs a calm, nonjudgmental space to sort through feelings and decisions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Emotionally-Focused Therapy looks at how feelings shape close relationships and helps people try different ways of connecting when old patterns cause pain.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will help you decide which methods fit your needs, goals, and preferences, and may combine elements from different approaches in a collaborative way.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, or allow a quicker check-in when schedules are tight. Talk with the therapist about how you want to use online meetings so sessions match your life and goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
Cathleen works with stress, anxiety, parenting and depression as well as intimacy and relationship concerns. She also helps with issues like blended family challenges, caregiver stress, divorce and life purpose questions.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is client-centered and collaborative, with active listening at the core. She mixes in cognitive behavioral and emotionally-focused ideas when useful to change thoughts and emotional patterns.
What is her professional background?
She has 25 years of professional work experience supporting people through common life and relationship challenges. Her practice emphasizes using strengths and small steps toward change.
Where is she based and what credential does she hold?
She is licensed in California and holds the LMFT credential, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to therapist availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.