Kathleen Cates-Richardson , LMFT

Kathleen Cates-Richardson is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 16 years of clinical experience. She practices in Iowa and draws on practical, person-focused methods to help people facing addiction, depression, trauma, relationship strain, intimacy concerns, and sleep problems.

She aims to make sessions straightforward and direct. Kathleen creates a calm space where people can talk about painful experiences without judgment. Conversations focus on what is happening now and on small steps that can lead to change.

Her background includes work across a range of concerns such as abandonment, adoption and foster care questions, caregiver stress, and substance use problems. She also addresses issues like body image, communication problems, and the effects of major illness or loss. Kathleen brings experience helping people sort complicated emotional patterns and practical life challenges.

In session she uses approaches that center the person, such as Client-Centered Therapy, alongside structured techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy. These tools are used together to fit each person’s needs rather than following a single script.

People who come to Kathleen can expect collaborative planning and clear options for coping and growth. She supports clients in identifying goals, practicing new ways of relating, and building routines that improve daily life. Her style is warm, steady, and focused on realistic steps forward.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what a person says so they feel heard and clearer about their own choices; online sessions can use this to help people talk through relationship or identity concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it is useful for depression, sleep problems, and coping with addiction triggers. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships, including mindfulness and distress-tolerance tools that can be practiced between sessions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will review a person’s goals, concerns, and preferences and suggest which methods to try first. Plans can be adjusted over time so the work stays relevant to what the person needs and what fits their life.

Online therapy with Kathleen is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for more in-depth conversations and skill demonstrations. Phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging allow brief check-ins, notes after sessions, and flexible support between scheduled meetings, making therapy easier to fit into a busy day.