Dr. Kathleen Ayers
Practical, compassionate CBT and acceptance-based care
CA Psychologist 18954 California
- Experience
- 32 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Depression
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Kathleen
Dr. Kathleen Ayers is a licensed clinical psychologist in California with over three decades of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, and a wide range of related concerns.
Background and approach
She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support clients coping with grief, relationship and intimacy difficulties, sleep problems, anger, low self-esteem, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and other life changes.
Additional areas of focus include caregiver stress, chronic pain and illness, hoarding, panic and phobic disorders, post-traumatic stress, seasonal affective disorder, somatization, and issues affecting LGBT clients. Her approach blends practical skill-building with thoughtful exploration of personal history when helpful.
Dr. Ayers often assigns between-session practice to reinforce new strategies, and she frames therapy as a collaborative process that honors each person’s experience.
With particular experience addressing chronic medical conditions and pain, she pays attention to how those physical challenges intersect with emotional well-being. She maintains professional credentials as CA Psychologist 18954 and practices from California, offering individual and group formats informed by years of clinical work.
Online approaches using CBT, ACT, and DBT skills
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning; it is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, panic, phobias, and somatic concerns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) centers on clarifying personal values and developing psychological flexibility through acceptance and mindfulness strategies, which can help with chronic pain, coping with life changes, and emotional suffering. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness that can be useful for managing intense emotions and relationship challenges.
Finding the right blend of techniques is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to identify goals, try different strategies, and adjust the approach based on what fits the client’s needs, preferences, and life circumstances. That partnership helps tailor which methods are emphasized in online sessions.
Online therapy with this practice is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it possible to access consistent care, practice skills between sessions, and integrate therapeutic strategies into everyday routines without needing to travel to an office.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
What style of therapy can I expect in sessions?
How long has she practiced clinically?
Where is the therapist licensed and located?
Can I work with her if English is not my primary language?
Does she accept international clients or remote formats?
How is cost handled for therapy?
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
32+ years
Licensed
California
Languages
English