Cathy Nau

Compassionate counselor guiding steady progress

LMHC Washington

Experience: 29 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Cathy

Cathy Nau is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in Washington who brings 29 years of clinical experience to her work. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, trauma and abuse, ADHD, self-esteem concerns, career challenges, and coping with life changes.

Background and approach

Her practice also addresses a wide array of related issues, including attachment and abandonment concerns, caregiver stress, mood disorders, eating and body image difficulties, and end-of-life or hospice support. Her style emphasizes meeting clients where they are and offering practical support that leads to gradual, achievable change.

Cathy draws on evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and client-centered approaches to tailor work to each person’s goals. She frames therapy as a collaborative process, helping clients identify priorities and take small, manageable steps toward those aims.

In addition to clinical counseling, Cathy has experience with military and family life counseling delivered across the United States and internationally. Her practice communicates warmth, respect, and an emphasis on realistic strategies to reduce distress and build coping skills over time.

How evidence-informed approaches translate to online care

Clients can expect work rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy among other approaches. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. ACT emphasizes values-guided action and learning to live alongside difficult thoughts and feelings while building a life that matters to the client.

Cathy uses a client-centered attitude to shape how these methods are applied, collaborating with each person to choose techniques that fit their goals and preferences. She frames therapy as a shared process of exploration and practical problem solving, helping clients test strategies and adjust the plan as progress unfolds.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility in how people connect. These options can make scheduling easier and allow the therapeutic work to continue across different life demands, enabling consistent practice of skills between sessions and ongoing support tailored to each client’s routine.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Cathy address?

She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, trauma and abuse, ADHD, self-esteem issues, career questions, and coping with life changes, along with many related areas such as caregiver stress and mood disorders.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her approach is personable and collaborative, meeting clients where they are and focusing on practical, step-by-step progress that aligns with each person’s goals.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Cathy brings 29 years of experience in psychocounseling and life coaching, including work providing military and family life counseling across the US and overseas.

What credentials and location should I know about?

She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the credential WA LMHC LH00007536 and practices in Washington.

Does she offer services in other languages or accept international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available?

Clients may meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on availability and preference.

How does billing and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteem Coping with life changes ADHD

Also works with

Trauma and abuseCareer difficultiesDepression Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterEating and food-related issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Post-traumatic stressSexual assault and abuseWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

29+ years

Licensed

Washington

Languages

English