Therapist profile
Kathleen O'Connor, LICSW
Massachusetts
MA LICSW - Anger and Addiction support
Continue with KathleenKey details
- CredentialsLICSW
- LicenseLICSW, Massachusetts / 121635
- NPI1770728776
- Experience25 years
- LanguagesEnglish
- LocationMassachusetts
About
- Motivational interviewing
- CBT and DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Kathleen
Kathleen O'Connor is an MA, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 25 years of experience in direct service. She works with adults on issues such as anger, addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, grief, relationship concerns, parenting strain, and career stress. Her background includes work in substance abuse treatment, psychiatric emergency settings, and community-based crisis care across urban and rural areas of the United States.
She began as a social services director in a nursing home and has provided services in many settings, including dialysis clinics and criminal justice contexts. Kathleen previously held licenses in Indiana and Ohio and held certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor in Ohio. Her practice has included in-home work and telehealth by phone and video during the pandemic.
Her counseling style is interactive and practical. She checks in frequently to make sure she understands the person she is speaking with. Sessions focus on clear goals and ongoing communication rather than labels.
Kathleen combines motivational interviewing, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in her work. She describes adapting conversations and treatment planning to the needs people bring in, whether the work is short term or longer term.
People who come for help with anger often work on identifying triggers, learning skills to manage intense feelings, improving communication, and addressing related issues like sleep, substance use, or stress. Kathleen offers straightforward, skills-based work that aims to reduce reactivity and improve daily functioning.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Kathleen often uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people spot patterns of thought and behavior that increase anger. CBT sessions typically involve identifying triggers, testing thoughts, and practicing alternative responses to reduce reactivity.She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Those skills teach concrete ways to soothe intense feelings, manage impulses, and respond calmly in high-stress moments.
Finding the right mix of approaches is collaborative. Kathleen works with each person to choose techniques that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean focusing on skills practice one week and motivational interviewing to strengthen commitment the next.
Confirm the current session formats before booking, since the profile notes telehealth by phone and video was used during the pandemic but does not list ongoing formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into daily life - for example a shorter phone check-in during a work break, or a video session when a longer skills practice is useful. These options help people keep progress steady without major scheduling changes.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of anger issues does she support?
She supports people dealing with snapping at loved ones, workplace frustration, building resentment, and responses to others' anger. Anger is addressed alongside related concerns like stress, sleep, substance use, and relationships.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is interactive and practical with frequent check-ins to ensure understanding. Sessions focus on goal-setting and skill practice rather than labels.
How much experience does she have?
She brings 25 years of direct-service experience across settings such as substance abuse treatment, psychiatric emergency care, dialysis clinics, and community crisis work.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds an MA and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Massachusetts. She previously held licenses in Indiana and Ohio.
Does she run sessions in other languages or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she offer?
The biography mentions telehealth by phone and video used during the pandemic. Confirm current session options before booking to be sure which formats are in use now.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific pricing depends on the chosen plan and location.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin the process.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.