About Kathleen

Kathleen Lynch Gaffney is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, ADHD, depression, grief, and relationship concerns. She brings a calm, steady presence and a long career of practice to sessions. Kathleen listens carefully and aims to build a dependable therapeutic relationship with each person she meets.

She has 35 years of experience working with people from a wide range of backgrounds. That time has shaped a straightforward, person-focused approach.

Background and approach

Sessions are practical and paced to fit what each person needs that week. Kathleen draws on several approaches to guide work in therapy. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and try new patterns.

Mindfulness strategies help people notice reactions and choose different responses in their lives. Attachment-based ideas inform how she looks at relationship patterns and intimacy issues. Client-centered principles mean conversations follow what matters most to the person in the room.

These tools are mixed to match individual goals rather than follow a strict formula. Clients can expect a respectfully curious clinician who values reliability and openness. Kathleen emphasizes real-world skills for coping with life changes, parenting stress, career pressure, grief, and chronic worries.

She also has an interest in HIV and AIDS related concerns and brings that focus into her practice. Reaching out is an important step, and Kathleen welcomes hearing each person’s story to determine the best next steps together.

Approaches and how online sessions work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that reflect their values. It can be useful for anxiety, coping with life changes, and staying focused despite distraction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behavior and teaches practical skills to change those patterns, often used for anxiety, depression, and managing mood shifts. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve awareness of the present moment, which often helps with stress and emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which combination of methods fits best based on goals and preferences. Sessions can adjust over time as needs change, and Kathleen uses a flexible mix rather than a single fixed method.

Online formats offer practical benefits for people with busy lives. Video calls let conversations feel most like in-person sessions and allow visual cues. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when a camera is not wanted. Live chat and text-based messaging support shorter check-ins, writing out thoughts, or staying connected between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or family schedules.

Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does Kathleen help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, ADHD, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, eating concerns, anger, self-esteem, career changes, bipolar symptoms, compassion fatigue, and HIV / AIDS related matters.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is practical and person-centered. She listens, then uses skills from cognitive behavioral work, mindfulness, and attachment ideas to address specific problems.
What experience does she bring?
Kathleen has 35 years of clinical experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and ages.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in New York and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to meet different scheduling and communication needs.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Also listed

Experience
35 years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English

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