Catherine McLaughlin
Compassionate, experienced LCSW guiding practical change
LCSW New York
- Experience
- 23 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Grief
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Catherine
Catherine McLaughlin is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 23 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and other complex life challenges.
Background and approach
She draws on a mix of evidence-informed methods and humanistic understanding to tailor care to each person’s needs, beginning where the client is and progressing at a pace that feels right.
Her practice emphasizes codependency, self-esteem work, substance use issues, and broader mood and personality concerns, while also addressing caregiver stress, communication problems, trauma and abuse, and life transitions. Catherine blends approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), client-centered and psychodynamic perspectives, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to support practical skill-building alongside deeper exploration of patterns and meaning.
Clients can expect a direct but compassionate style that balances empathy with clear feedback and occasional gentle humor when appropriate. Catherine’s background includes years working in New York settings, and she brings that clinical experience to her current practice in New York as an LCSW.
She conducts therapy in English and offers several online session formats to fit different schedules and needs.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client's lead and supports self-directed growth; this approach helps people feel heard and understood while they explore goals and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) emphasizes identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and skill-building, which is often useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood regulation. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and stress-reduction practices that can complement both CBT and psychodynamic work when managing anxiety, grief, or chronic stress.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Catherine will work with clients to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences, and she adapts techniques over time as progress and priorities evolve.
Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for busy schedules and varied comfort levels. These formats allow clients to access consistent care without travel, maintain continuity during life transitions, and use tools like brief messages or chat for course corrections between longer sessions. Licensed professionals can integrate exercises, worksheets, and mindfulness practices into these formats to support steady progress.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
What therapeutic style should I expect?
How much clinical experience does she have?
What are her credentials and location?
Which languages are available for sessions?
In what formats are sessions offered?
How is cost and payment handled?
What steps start the process of working together?
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English