- Warm and engaging
- Practical next steps
- Faith-informed values
About Catherine
Catherine Brenen is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with 16 years of experience in mental health care. She helps people facing anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, relationship strain, and challenges that come with aging. Her tone is warm and direct, and she aims to make the first step feel manageable for anyone who is hesitant to reach out.
She bases her work on respect, empathy, and a hopeful outlook. Sessions avoid judgment and fear-based tactics. Instead, Catherine focuses on honest conversation and practical next steps that fit each person’s life.
Her approach blends client-centered conversation with cognitive-behavioral and dialectical strategies, and she may use psychodynamic ideas when they seem helpful. Catherine adapts the plan to match a person’s goals, whether that means short-term problem solving or deeper reflection.
People can expect a therapist who listens, asks clear questions, and helps set realistic goals. She places value on unconditional positive regard while working toward better daily functioning and healthier relationships.
If someone is coping with codependency, caregiving strain, addiction, grief, or life transitions, she helps untangle patterns and find practical ways forward. Catherine encourages small changes that add up to meaningful improvement.
How therapy approaches shape online care
Client-centered therapy is about meeting people where they are and following their pace. It focuses on listening, reflecting, and building goals that matter to the individual and can help with relationship concerns and self-esteem issues.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It uses practical exercises and skill-building to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful patterns such as those that appear with addictive behavior.
Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, combines acceptance with change strategies. It teaches skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication when stress or relationship conflicts feel overwhelming.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Catherine will collaborate with each person to choose which methods fit their goals and daily life. She adapts techniques over time based on what helps most.
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins or focused skill practice when needed. These practical benefits help people keep therapy consistent while balancing work, family, or caregiving responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
Catherine supports people struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, and challenges tied to aging and caregiving.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is warm, engaging, and nonjudgmental, emphasizing respect, empathy, and unconditional positive regard during sessions.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings 16 years of experience as a mental health provider in clinical social work.
What credentials and region apply?
She holds an LMSW credential and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can I work with her from outside the U.S.?
International clients are not currently accepted; sessions are provided to people located where she is licensed.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps start the process?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.