- Client-centered care
- Practical coping skills
- Warm interactive style
About Kathy
Kathy Rubendall is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in North Carolina with 30 years of experience. She helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, or big life changes. Her manner is warm and interactive, and she aims to create a respectful, accepting space for people to talk through what matters to them.
Her background includes work with bipolar disorder, trauma, attachment issues related to international adoption, and concerns connected to military service. She also supports people facing body image and eating issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and codependency. Kathy draws on a broad clinical history to meet varied needs.
Kathy uses a client-centered framework that keeps each person’s goals front and center. That means sessions focus on the person and what they want to change, not on a predefined script. She blends cognitive behavioral techniques and problem-solving methods to help people find practical ways to manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Dialectical behavior ideas and motivational interviewing are also part of her toolkit when they fit a person’s goals. Those approaches can help with emotional regulation, motivation to change, and clearer decision making. Kathy adjusts methods to match each person’s pace and preferences.
If someone is nervous about starting therapy, she emphasizes small steps and collaborative planning. The work is presented as an ongoing conversation aimed at realistic progress, not instant fixes. Kathy describes beginning therapy as an important decision and offers steady support through the process.
How therapy approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and making the person’s goals the priority. In sessions the therapist reflects what the client says, asks clarifying questions, and helps clients set their own pace for change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences and then suggest strategies that fit. That conversation is collaborative and can shift over time as needs change.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, as formats were not specified in the profile. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when helpful, and offering flexibility for scheduling around work or caregiver duties. Licensed professionals use these methods to help people apply skills between sessions and keep progress moving forward.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Credentials
North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Kathy help with?
Kathy works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, bipolar disorder, trauma, attachment issues, and codependency, among other concerns listed in her profile.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is described as warm and interactive, emphasizing mutual respect, acceptance, and compassion while focusing on the client’s goals.
How long has she practiced?
She has 30 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in North Carolina and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a therapy match with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s 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.