- Years in practice
- 25
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Family conflicts
About Cathleen
Cathleen Stafford is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 25 years of experience in California. She starts by listening and treating each person as the expert on their own life. Her approach is calm and practical, aimed at helping parents and adults find clearer paths through stressful times.
Cathleen combines gentle listening with proven methods to address stress, anxiety, and depression. She helps people untangle communication problems and the strain that comes with parenting.
Background and approach
She also supports those dealing with intimacy concerns, caregiver stress, and life transitions such as divorce or midlife re-evaluation. Her work draws on client-centered principles so conversations stay focused on each person’s goals. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to break unhelpful thinking patterns and solution-focused ideas to identify small, doable steps forward.
Internal Family Systems and Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas inform how she looks at difficult feelings and relationship dynamics. Sessions tend to be straightforward and goal-oriented. Cathleen helps people practice different ways of talking and responding at home.
She also works on problem-solving when blended family issues, infidelity, or family of origin patterns cause repeated conflict. With many years of practice, she balances experience with a collaborative style. The aim is practical change that fits everyday life.
Parents and adults seeking clearer communication and less overwhelm may find this a useful way to move forward.
What Cathleen works with
Everything Cathleen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Cathleen helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Depression
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Divorce and separation
- Family of origin issues
- Forgiveness
- Infidelity
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Postpartum depression
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Cathleen lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
- Systemic Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Cathleen uses client-centered therapy to keep conversations focused on what matters most to the person. That means the therapist asks open questions, reflects what she hears, and helps people set priorities for change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is used to spot and change thoughts and behaviors that keep problems like anxiety or low mood in place. It’s practical and often includes homework to try new ways of responding.Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Cathleen will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. Together they set short-term goals and check progress, adjusting techniques as needed to match the client’s situation.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls are useful for longer therapy conversations and relationship work, while phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit a break at work. Live chat or text-based messaging can be a shorter check-in, helpful for quick problem-solving or tracking changes between sessions. These options make it easier to maintain consistent care around parenting and daily responsibilities.
Questions people ask about Cathleen
What concerns does Cathleen commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, intimacy-related issues, and family matters. Additional focus areas include blended family issues, caregiver stress, communication problems, and postpartum depression.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative. She pairs active listening with practical techniques from CBT, EFT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.
How long has she been practicing?
Cathleen has 25 years of professional experience working in California. That background informs how she guides conversations and suggests practical steps.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, CA LMFT, and practices in California.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
Therapy can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options allow different ways to fit therapy into a busy schedule.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and is billed through a subscription model. The subscription can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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