Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Depression
How Catherine works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LMSW
- Licensed in
- Michigan
- Years in practice
- 16
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Catherine
Catherine Brenen is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 16 years of experience helping people manage life stress and emotional challenges. She focuses on practical steps people can use to feel steadier and more able to handle daily demands. Catherine brings a warm, nonjudgmental presence to sessions and centers respect and empathy in her work.
She helps people who are coping with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and substance use concerns.
Background and approach
She also supports those facing relationship strain, parenting stress, career transitions, anger, and the demands of aging and caregiving. Catherine tailors conversations to each person’s situation rather than using the same plan for everyone. Her approach blends client-centered listening with cognitive-behavioral techniques and dialectical skills.
She draws on mindfulness and motivational interviewing to help people notice patterns and take small, realistic steps toward change. Some conversations include exploring deeper life themes when that feels useful. Sessions aim to be collaborative and focused.
Catherine works with clients to set clear goals, try practical skills between sessions, and adjust the plan as needed. She avoids shame-based tactics and instead emphasizes strengths and forward movement. Starting therapy is often hard, and Catherine acknowledges that courage is involved.
She guides people through the early steps and provides steady support as they practice new coping tools and make changes over time.
What Catherine works with
Everything Catherine lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Catherine's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Depression
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Catherine lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Catherine’s Approaches Translate to Online Care
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and test small behavior changes. It is often used for anxiety, depression, anger, and stress so clients can practice new responses in daily life.Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, focuses on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal skills. It is useful when emotions feel overwhelming and when people want concrete tools to manage intense moments.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Catherine will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. She mixes client-centered listening with CBT and DBT techniques and adjusts the plan as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make attending easier. Video is helpful for in-depth conversation and skills practice, phone works well when bandwidth is limited or for quick check-ins, and messaging or live chat suit shorter exchanges or ongoing support between appointments. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or busy days.
Questions people ask about Catherine
What concerns does Catherine commonly address?
Catherine works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, substance use, anger, relationship and parenting challenges, and issues related to aging and caregiving.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is warm and engaging, centered on respect and positive regard. She avoids judgment and focuses on practical steps and skills you can use between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience as a mental health provider working with a wide range of life stressors and behavioral health concerns.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She is a licensed master social worker, listed as LMSW, and practices from Michigan.
Which languages are supported and can she work with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.