- Years in practice
- 24
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Kathleen
Kathleen Kaufman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with 24 years of professional experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, trauma, and parenting challenges. Her approach is practical and respectful, aimed at clear steps rather than jargon.
She works with both women and men and tailors sessions to each person's situation. Her sessions focus on solving immediate problems and building long-term skills. She listens to what matters most and helps clients set realistic goals.
Background and approach
Kathleen blends attachment-based ideas with mindfulness and client-centered conversation to strengthen relationships and self-understanding. When emotional pain or difficult life changes come up, she helps people break problems into manageable pieces. Techniques from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing are used as tools when they fit the situation.
The work often includes learning coping skills, improving communication, and reducing overwhelming feelings. She pays attention to family history and attachment patterns that shape adult behavior. That background work is used to improve intimacy, reduce codependent patterns, and address fatherhood or caregiver stress when relevant.
Practical strategies are paired with steady support so clients can practice changes between sessions. Many clients come for help with grief, career strain, ADHD-related challenges, or compassion fatigue. Kathleen invites a collaborative pace and clear steps so people can measure progress and adjust the plan as needed.
What Kathleen works with
Everything Kathleen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Kathleen helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Kathleen lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused 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 Kathleen’s Approaches Translate to Online Care
Attachment-Based Therapy emphasizes how early bonds shape current relationships. Online sessions use conversation to identify patterns and practice new ways of relating to partners or children. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s priorities and pace, with the therapist listening closely and reflecting back what matters most to help people clarify goals. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving distress tolerance; those skills can be taught and practiced during video or phone sessions.Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Kathleen will talk with each person about goals, life demands, and what feels most useful. Together they decide whether attachment work, skill-building from DBT, motivational interviewing, or another combination will best fit the needs and preferences presented in early sessions.
Online work offers practical flexibility. Video calls are useful for deeper conversation and visual cues, phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit a work break, live chat supports brief check-ins, and text messaging helps with ongoing tracking or short coaching-style prompts. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while fitting real-life schedules and responsibilities.
Questions people ask about Kathleen
What concerns does she help with?
She supports people coping with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting issues, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and self-esteem problems.
What is her general therapy style?
She uses a practical, respectful approach that focuses on problem solving, clear goals, and supportive conversation tailored to each person.
How much experience does she have?
She has 24 years of professional experience working with adults on a wide range of concerns.
What are her professional credentials and location?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in Illinois.
Which languages are offered and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
She meets by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and scheduling work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; 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, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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