- Substance use support
- Trauma-informed listening
- Skill building
About Kathrina
Kathrina Cauckwell-Rafferty is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in California. She brings ten years of experience focusing on substance use concerns and the effects those struggles can have on daily life and relationships. Kathrina aims to make reaching out feel manageable and respectful for each person who contacts her.
She uses straightforward conversation to help people build coping skills. That work often includes addressing past trauma, repairing strained relationships, and finding sources of support. She has also provided therapy in specialty programs for domestic violence and sexual abuse survivors as well as youth and their families.
Kathrina creates a non-judgmental space where people set their own goals. Sessions center on practical steps tailored to those goals. She works collaboratively to build plans that fit each person’s circumstances and values.
Her background includes significant work with substance use disorders, which shaped her approach to relapse prevention, motivation, and coping strategies. She also supports people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, anger, low self-esteem, workplace stress, and relationship concerns, including codependency issues.
In sessions she blends client-centered techniques with Dialectical Behavior Therapy and motivational interviewing. That mix helps people notice patterns, strengthen motivation for change, and practice new skills. Her aim is steady progress rather than quick fixes, with attention to what matters most to each person.
How her approaches fit into online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person and their goals. The therapist follows the person’s lead, listens closely, and helps them name what matters. This approach is useful when someone wants a supportive space to make sense of feelings and choices.Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, provides clear skills for handling intense emotions and improving relationships. It includes skills for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can help with anger, anxiety, and relationship patterns.
Motivational Interviewing helps people notice their reasons for change and build confidence. It’s often used when someone feels stuck or uncertain about making changes related to substance use or other habits.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which techniques match their goals, needs, and preferences. That process may shift over time as progress is made and new issues emerge.
Because session formats were not specified in this profile, confirm current options before booking to know how sessions are scheduled and delivered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, shorter check-ins can work around a work break, and video conversations allow face-to-face interaction without travel. Licensed professionals can adapt techniques like DBT skills training and motivational interviewing to an online setting to focus on practical skills and real-life goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with a range of concerns including addictions, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, grief, and codependency-related patterns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and straightforward, using client-centered conversation mixed with practical skills training and motivational techniques.
How much experience does she have?
She has ten years of clinical experience, with much of that time focused on substance use disorders and related supports.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, practicing in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the 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.