Kathryn Opfer, LCSW

Kathryn Opfer is licensed in Wisconsin and combines three years of direct therapy experience with twelve years working in social work. She has helped people navigate stress and anxiety, regain motivation, build self-esteem and confidence, and manage mood conditions such as bipolar disorder and depression. Kathryn focuses on identifying each person’s existing strengths and using those resources to address the challenges they face.

She views clients as the experts of their own stories and aims to create a supportive space that encourages growth. Kathryn acknowledges the courage it takes to pursue a more fulfilling, happier life and partners with clients to take practical steps toward change. Her approach emphasizes empowerment, collaborative goal-setting, and steady support throughout the journey.

Approach to Therapy Online and Evidence-Informed Methods

Kathryn uses client-centered therapy to place the person’s experience at the forefront - this approach involves listening closely, validating personal goals, and shaping sessions around what matters most to the individual, which can be helpful for issues like self-esteem, motivation, and life transitions.

She also works with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a practical method that examines how thoughts and behaviors interact and introduces skills to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. CBT helps clients identify unhelpful patterns and try alternative ways of thinking and acting.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another tool Kathryn draws on for emotional regulation and coping strategies; it emphasizes skills such as distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness and can be useful for mood instability and self-harm concerns.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Kathryn partners with clients to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Kathryn is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving flexibility to fit sessions into busy schedules and making consistent support more accessible for people balancing work, caregiving, or other commitments.