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LMSW

Kathleen Cooley, LMSW

  • Experience40 years
  • LocationMichigan
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Relationship
  • Therapy approachesAttachment-Based Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Kathleen

Kathleen Cooley is a licensed social worker with 40 years of experience who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship struggles, parenting concerns, and ADHD. She welcomes those coping with major life changes, mood disorders, and challenges like impulsivity, low self-esteem, and career-related stress.

Background and approach

Her practice also reaches into family of origin issues, caregiving strain, aging and geriatric concerns, and situations involving bereavement or end-of-life care. Her therapeutic style is warm and practical, emphasizing listening and creating a sense of safety for people who may feel hesitant about reaching out.

Kathleen draws heavily on cognitive behavioral techniques alongside a client-centered attitude, adapting methods to each person’s needs and occasionally incorporating solution-focused and trauma-informed strategies. She has experience across settings with children, adolescents, college students, adults, and people with severe mental illness as well as adjustment difficulties.

Based in Michigan, Kathleen offers part-time practice and prefers video-based sessions so she and clients can see one another, while remaining open to phone, text, and live chat when appropriate. She encourages anyone who recognizes a need for support to take the step to reach out and begin a conversation about their concerns.

Online Approaches That Support Practical Change

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in relationships and how early bonds shape current emotional responses; it can help people understand connection issues, communication problems, and attachment-related anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical strategies to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday challenges. Trauma-Focused Therapy targets the aftereffects of traumatic experiences with structured approaches to reduce distress and improve coping in daily life.

Choosing a therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Kathleen works with clients to explore what feels most relevant to their goals, matching interventions to individual needs and preferences rather than applying one fixed method. Over time she adjusts techniques based on what is proving helpful and what clients report about progress and comfort.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video meetings are preferred so therapist and client can see one another, which supports relational work and clearer communication, while phone and messaging options provide accessibility when scheduling or circumstances make live video difficult. These formats allow therapy to fit into busy lives and reach people across Michigan who may benefit from consistent support.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she often address?
Kathleen works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and parenting concerns, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and a range of mood and life-change issues.
What is her therapeutic approach and style?
Her approach is warm and pragmatic, using client-centered principles and cognitive behavioral techniques while adapting methods to each person’s needs and adding trauma-focused or solution-focused tools when helpful.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 40 years of social work experience across schools, college settings, and adult services, with work that has included severe mental illness, adjustment difficulties, and trauma-related concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is an LMSW licensed in Michigan with license number MI LMSW 6801033979 and provides services from Michigan.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available for working together?
She prefers video sessions so clients and therapist can see each other, and also offers phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging when appropriate.
How is cost and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefDepression

Also works with

Family conflictsParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTrichotillomaniaYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Solution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

40+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English

What Kathleen can help with

Kathleen Cooley works with clients on stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression.

Kathleen has experience with sexual and other abuses, suicidality, grief and loss, and relationships.

How Kathleen approaches therapy

Kathleen's clinical approaches include Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

Experience and training

Kathleen is a Licensed Masters Social Worker practicing in Michigan, with 40 years of clinical experience.