- Years in practice
- 23
- Credentials
- LICSW, LCSW
- Licensed in
- Virginia, District of Columbia
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Grief
- Focus
- Self esteem
About Cathy
Cathy Bottrell is a licensed social worker who focuses on helping people manage grief, life changes, and stressful health challenges. She holds a DC LICSW and a VA LCSW and brings 23 years of practice to each session. Her manner is direct and warm, aimed at helping people find practical ways forward.
Parents will find straightforward guidance on coping and day-to-day strategies. Cathy draws on therapies that help people notice what matters and take manageable steps toward it.
Background and approach
Sessions often include learning new ways to handle upsetting thoughts and feelings. She also uses mindfulness to help clients rest and reset during hard moments. Her work has included adjustment to illness, depression, anxiety, behavioral changes, grief and loss, and adoption-related concerns.
Cathy aims to translate experience into useful tools for everyday life. She helps people set realistic goals and track small improvements. Cathy meets with adults and teens in a calm, steady way that favors clarity over jargon.
Conversations tend to focus on concrete strategies - small habits, communication skills, and ways to reduce overwhelm. She supports people who are juggling parenting stress alongside other pressures. People who choose Cathy can expect collaborative sessions that balance practical skills and reflection.
She frames progress as steady steps, not instant fixes. To begin, a short questionnaire and scheduling step helps match needs with the right session format.
What Cathy works with
Everything Cathy lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Cathy helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Cathy lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic Approaches for Online Parenting Support
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people identify their core values and take small actions that align with those values. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and navigating life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding so people can find their own solutions; it supports healing by emphasizing respect and nonjudgmental attention.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Cathy works with each person to evaluate goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they try methods and adjust the plan based on what actually helps in day-to-day life.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video calls work well for deeper conversations and skill practice. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text-based messaging allow quick check-ins, short reflections, or help fitting therapy into a busy day.
These options make it easier to maintain momentum between appointments and to use therapy in ways that match parenting schedules and other responsibilities.
Questions people ask about Cathy
What kinds of concerns does Cathy address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting strain, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep problems, addictions, ADHD, and related life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach blends practical skills with mindful awareness and acceptance. Sessions tend to focus on doable steps and clear tools rather than heavy theory.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Cathy has 23 years of experience working as a clinical social worker and therapist with a wide range of concerns including grief and adjustment to illness.
What are her official credentials and where is she based?
She holds a DC LICSW and a VA LCSW and practices with a base in the District of Columbia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Clients can meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to therapist availability.
More therapists for parents in District of Columbia
All in District of Columbia
Brittany Bordonaro
LICSW
District of Columbia 15 years in practice
Supporting parents with practical steps
- Relationship
- Family
- Trauma and abuse
Joseph Osiecki
LICSW
District of Columbia 9 years in practice
Helping parents find clear, practical steps
- Relationship
- Family
- Intimacy-related issues
Stephanie Nash
LICSW, MD, LCSW-C
District of Columbia 29 years in practice
Positive, practical support for parenting and life changes
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship
- Trauma and abuse