Cathi Brisart, LCSW - Therapist in Connecticut

About Cathi

Cathi Brisart is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and major life changes. She uses straightforward talk and practical skills to address relationship strain, parenting concerns, trauma and abuse, and work-related stress like compassion fatigue. Sessions aim to make small, useful changes that feel manageable for everyday life.

Cathi brings 12 years of clinical experience and an LCSW credential to her work.

Background and approach

She trained in Connecticut and built a practice focused on supporting people through transitions, loss, mood struggles, and family-related problems. Her background includes training in trauma-informed care and a history of working with a broad set of emotional and relational concerns. In the therapy room she mixes client-centered listening with skills-based tools.

That means clients set priorities while she offers structured techniques to reduce symptoms and improve communication. She draws from cognitive behavioral and mindfulness approaches to change unhelpful thoughts and build coping habits. She also uses emotion-focused and dialectical strategies when relationships and intense emotions are central issues.

These methods help people notice and name feelings, and then shape more effective ways to respond. The pace is steady and goal-oriented, with attention to what the client needs now. Cathi practices in Connecticut and provides services aimed at people managing grief, family problems, bonding and attachment questions, abandonment wounds, body image concerns, and the stress of chronic illness.

Her approach balances empathy with practical skill-building to support lasting, usable change.

Therapeutic approaches for online support and skills building

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and helping clients set their own goals; it is useful when someone needs validation and a clear, collaborative plan for change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches concrete skills to notice unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more helpful thinking, which is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, provides practical tools for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for people struggling with strong mood swings or relationship conflicts.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together they try a method and adjust as needed so the work feels useful and respectful of the client’s pace.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options let people fit sessions around work, childcare, or medical needs and keep progress moving between visits. For those who prefer brief check-ins, text or chat can reinforce skills, while video allows more in-depth conversation and nonverbal cues. Overall, online formats aim to make consistent therapy easier to attend while using the same clinical approaches as in-person work.

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 issues does this therapist help with?

She addresses stress, anxiety, grief, depression, self-esteem, parenting, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, bipolar concerns, compassion fatigue, and related issues such as abandonment and blended family challenges.

What is the therapist's overall approach and style?

The style combines client-centered listening with practical, skills-based methods. Sessions focus on clear goals, teaching coping tools, and improving communication.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Cathi has practiced for 12 years and has developed work focused on grief, trauma, adjustment, and relationship issues.

What credentials and where is the therapist licensed?

She holds the LCSW credential and is licensed in Connecticut with CT LCSW 010040.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available online?

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

How does cost and subscription work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 12 years
Licensed: Connecticut
Languages: English

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