Kathleen Sutherland
Online Therapy
Accepting New Clients
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
California
License 144755
https://freestylesupervisionandemdr.com/About Kathleen
Dear future clients, I'm a bilingual therapist fluent in both English and Spanish, dedicated to providing compassionate support and guidance to Neurodivergent individuals (both Autism and ADHD), anxiety, depression, and life transitions. I create a warm and welcoming space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to navigate their mental health journey. I also offer neurodivergent assessments and group counseling.
I am supervised by Cassandra Holt Kimbell, LPCC- S 11336, at Freestyle Supervision and EMDR Group LLC. My approach is rooted in empathy and openness, tailored to each client's unique needs and goals. I'm committed to helping individuals uncover their inner strengths, develop effective coping strategies, and build resilience in the face of life's challenges.
If you're struggling with managing Autism or ADHD symptoms, anxiety and depression, or navigating significant life changes, I'm here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can work towards a brighter tomorrow, where you feel empowered to overcome obstacles and live a more fulfilling life. Reach out today and take a step towards positive change.
$125 per session
Out of Pocket
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
Cigna
Optum
UnitedHealthcare (UHC / UBH)
How does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) work and how can it help?
CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In sessions, we identify patterns that may be contributing to distress and explore alternative ways of thinking and responding. I use CBT in a flexible way rather than rigidly. It is not about forcing positive thinking, but about creating more balanced and helpful perspectives.
How do you work with clients with anxiety?
With anxiety, I focus on both understanding and regulation. We explore what your anxiety is trying to communicate, while also building tools to help your body feel safer. This may include grounding techniques, nervous system regulation, and gently working through thought patterns that keep anxiety going. I also move at a pace that respects your capacity, rather than pushing too quickly.
Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?
I became a therapist because I have always been deeply curious about people. I want to understand how someone’s mind works, what shaped them, and what they need in order to feel safe, seen, and supported. Over time, that curiosity turned into a genuine passion for helping people reconnect with themselves in a way that feels empowering rather than overwhelming. What motivates me to continue is witnessing those small but meaningful shifts. When someone starts to feel a little less alone, a little more regulated, or begins to trust themselves again, that matters to me. I also value creating spaces that feel neuroaffirming, culturally aware, and genuinely human.
How do you work with clients with depression?
Depression often comes with heaviness, low energy, and self-critical thoughts. I approach this with care and patience. We focus on reducing pressure, increasing self-compassion, and creating small, realistic shifts that feel doable. Support may include building routines, exploring meaning, and addressing the thoughts that reinforce feelings of worthlessness. You are not expected to “push through” or make progress.
For people that are hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them?
It makes sense to feel hesitant. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, unfamiliar, and even intimidating. You do not have to have everything figured out before you start, and you do not have to share everything right away. Therapy is not about being judged or “fixed.” It is about having a space where you can show up as you are and move at your own pace. You are allowed to ask questions, set boundaries, and decide what feels right for you. I wish I could tell people to start small. You can begin with what feels easiest to talk about and build from there. Also, pay attention to how you feel with your therapist. Feeling safe and understood is more important than saying the “right” things.
What should people thinking about working with you, know about you?
I am a neurodivergent therapist myself and love helping others on their journey to understand what that means for them. I value authenticity, collaboration, and creating a space where you do not have to mask. I am warm, direct when needed, and intentional in how I support clients. I also bring a neuroaffirming, culturally aware lens to my work, and I care about helping clients feel both understood and empowered.
What do therapy sessions with you look like?
Sessions with me are collaborative, flexible, and paced around you. Some days may be more structured and skill-focused, while others may be more open and reflective. I check in often to make sure we are moving in a way that feels supportive and not overwhelming. I aim to create a space that feels warm, grounded, and real. You do not need to mask or perform in session. We can laugh, process, pause, or sit with things together. I also incorporate practical tools when helpful so that what we talk about can translate into your daily life.
How do you work with clients with ADHD?
My approach to ADHD is neuroaffirming. We do not view ADHD as something to “fix,” but as a different way of processing and engaging with the world. Our nervous systems are wired differently from others, and I am here to help you understand what that means and how it looks in your life. Support may include creating systems that work with your brain, not against it, improving executive functioning in realistic ways, and addressing shame that often develops from past experiences.
How do you work with clients with stress?
Stress is often a combination of external demands and internal pressure. I help clients identify what is within their control and what is not, while also supporting their nervous system. We may work on boundaries, time structuring, and regulation tools that help your body come out of constant activation.
How do you work with clients on the autism spectrum?
I take a neuroaffirming approach that respects each client’s way of communicating, processing, and experiencing the world. We focus on supporting sensory needs, communication preferences, and self-understanding. Therapy is adapted to fit the client, not the other way around.
Interested in talking?
(714) 794-2040