Kathleen Kaufman
Calm, practical support for family and parenting concerns
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Experience
- 24 years
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Kathleen
Kathleen Kaufman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with 24 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting struggles. She also supports those dealing with trauma, grief, anger, low self-esteem, and challenges like ADHD or compassion fatigue.
Her tone is calm and direct, and she aims to make the first step feel manageable for someone who is worried or overwhelmed. Kathleen uses simple, practical conversations to identify what needs to change.
Background and approach
She focuses on problem-solving and hands-on support rather than long abstract talks. Sessions are shaped to fit each person - Kathleen adapts to different goals and life situations. Her approach draws on attachment-based ideas to look at relationship patterns and early family dynamics.
She also uses client-centered listening to understand each person’s perspective and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation when stress or crises arise. Mindfulness and motivational interviewing are part of her toolkit to build awareness and strengthen motivation. Parents often appreciate her straightforward help with parenting stress, family tensions, and communication problems.
She also addresses concerns like intimacy, career strain, and coping with life changes. Kathleen keeps recommendations practical so people can try small changes between sessions. Sessions are offered in English and arranged around individual needs.
Kathleen aims to create respectful, compassionate space where people can make steady progress toward the goals they set.
Online tools and therapy approaches that fit family life
Kathleen commonly uses attachment-based ideas and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills in online work. Attachment-based therapy looks at how early relationship patterns shape current reactions and helps people change repeating patterns that cause stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for managing strong emotions, reducing reactivity, and improving communication in tense moments.She also draws on client-centered listening to keep the focus on each person’s goals and values. Finding the right blend of methods is a collaborative step. The therapist will talk with the client about their needs, try approaches that fit their situation, and adjust the plan over time based on what helps most.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to add flexibility for busy families. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare, and school schedules. They also let people practice skills from home and check in more easily between sessions when short support is needed.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.
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.
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
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- Abandonment
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 24 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Kathleen
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point