Katie McLaughlin

Becoming a therapist was a spiritual calling to help others navigate the emotional turmoil that life often leads us through. It has become my purpose to be a safe place while providing hope and encouragement.

At its core, CBT states that our thoughts, emotions and behaviors are interconnected. Not only that, but all of our past experiences play a role as well. When I use CBT in therapy, I explain this interconnection and then assist clients with making those connections between their thoughts and experiences. Doing so provides a greater understanding to the age-old question: "Why am I the way that I am?" CBT has a very sciency background as well. During therapy, I make sure to explain what is happening in the brain and how we can use the power of neuroplasticity to see real and lasting changes to your mental health.

Therapy is a place of zero judgement and a compassionate ear to help you truly understand yourself, your experiences and your relationships. It is completely normal to be nervous, especially if this will be your first time in therapy. Our brain identifies new situations as possibly threatening because it doesn't know exactly how it will play out. However, most individuals I have worked with, who were also quite nervous about therapy, have expressed feeling at ease and encouraged by the end of their first session. If you are thinking about reaching out to a therapist (either myself or another), I encourage you to do so. Oftentimes, we must face that which we are afraid of in order for our brain to realize it's not as scary as it originally thought it would be. You got this.

Sessions may look different depending on what you are coming to counseling for. Typically, my sessions are a mixture of talk-therapy, education about the brain and body within the context of your experiences and practicing helpful skills for improving management of anxiety and other challenging emotions. The time you have in each session is truly your own and it is my honor to create an experience which meets your needs on any given day.

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly through us all for a loop; however, the increase in teletherapy has been quite beneficial as it creates more accessibility to mental health care. Beginning with a new therapist can be stressful enough, without having to worry about finding the office, parking and then awkwardly sitting in a waiting room with strangers. Teletherapy simplifies this experience and provides a certain comfort, since you are now able to meet with your therapist in the comfort of your own home. For those of us who do deal with higher anxiety, I have found this simplification to be a breath of fresh air as it removes a large barrier to even beginning therapy.