Catherine Brenen, LMSW - Therapist in Michigan

About Catherine

Catherine Brenen is a licensed master social worker practicing in Michigan. She has 16 years of experience helping people cope with stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, and life changes related to aging. Her work emphasizes respect, empathy, and a hopeful outlook rooted in faith for those who bring it to sessions.

Catherine aims to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where people can take steps toward better day-to-day functioning. She favors clear, practical conversations over fear or blame.

Background and approach

Sessions typically focus on identifying immediate concerns, making small changes, and building skills that help in everyday life. Catherine adapts her approach to each person and does not use one fixed method for everyone. Her clinical style draws from client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing, with room for psychodynamic ideas when they fit.

That mix lets her work on thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and motivation together. She explains techniques plainly and helps clients practice them between sessions. Catherine also pays attention to relationship and family stressors, grief, parenting challenges, eating and intimacy issues, and caregiver strain.

She will tailor conversations and plans to fit each person’s situation and goals. The focus is on practical steps to improve daily life and relationships. Taking the first step can feel hard.

Catherine offers a steady, compassionate presence while people plan concrete changes. She invites prospective clients to begin with a short matching process and then schedule sessions based on what works for them.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Catherine uses approaches that aim to change unhelpful thoughts and build coping skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting common thought patterns and testing them against real life. It is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and behavior change.

She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, which teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills. DBT can help when strong emotions, relationship strain, or impulsive behaviors get in the way of daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Catherine will collaborate with each person to decide which methods match their goals, needs, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time as progress and challenges become clearer.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. These options let people fit therapy into busy schedules, follow up between meetings, and continue work from home or elsewhere. The variety of formats supports different communication styles and practical needs.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Catherine address?

She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, grief, intimacy concerns, parenting challenges, and caregiver stress.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Catherine offers a warm, engaging, and nonjudgmental style that emphasizes respect, empathy, and positive regard while focusing on practical steps forward.

What kind of experience does she have?

She has 16 years of experience as a mental health provider working with adults on a range of life and clinical challenges.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She holds an LMSW credential with license number MI LMSW 6801096367 and practices in Michigan.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What formats are available for meeting?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model 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 then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
Relationship issues

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 16 years
Licensed: Michigan
Languages: English

Next step

Talk to Catherine

Takes a few minutes
Nothing to set up just to look
Stop at any point

Book with Catherine