- Stress and anxiety
- Addictions support
- Guilt and shame
About Kathy
Kathy Branning is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 30 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She also addresses concerns like abandonment, body image, caregiver strain, chronic illness and pain, communication and control issues, divorce and separation, forgiveness, guilt and shame, impulsivity, loneliness, life purpose, money worries, mood disorders, and panic attacks.
Kathy approaches sessions by recognizing that each person knows their own story best. She looks for strengths clients already have and uses them as a base for change. Sessions are practical and grounded, with the therapist helping people talk through what feels stuck and what they want to try next.
Over three decades, Kathy has worked in settings that shaped her skills at helping people manage stress and regain motivation. She aims to help clients build confidence and clearer direction, rather than offering quick fixes. Conversations focus on concrete steps and realistic strategies that fit daily life.
Her style emphasizes collaboration and straightforward discussion. Clients can expect a focus on identifying unhelpful patterns, experimenting with different ways to cope, and strengthening what already works. Kathy encourages small, manageable shifts that add up over time.
People who bring guilt or shame into sessions are invited to look at those feelings alongside the other concerns listed. She supports practical problem-solving while acknowledging how emotions affect choices and relationships.
How evidence-based approaches translate to online sessions
Evidence-based therapeutic techniques focus on clear steps you can try between meetings. One common approach involves identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and practicing alternative responses in daily life; this helps with anxiety, mood problems, and panic. Another useful method centers on processing reactions to past hurt and trauma through paced discussion and coping skills that reduce overwhelm and improve functioning.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will review your goals, symptoms, and preferences and suggest which techniques seem most useful. That decision is collaborative - you and the therapist check what helps and adjust as you go.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, permit shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Many people find it simpler to keep continuity of care when meetings can be scheduled around work, caregiving, or health limitations.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
Illinois, Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address related to guilt or shame?
She works with guilt and shame alongside depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, and self-esteem issues.
How does she approach therapy for these issues?
Kathy focuses on practical conversation and building on a person's strengths. She helps clients identify stuck patterns and try concrete coping steps.
How much experience does she bring to this work?
She has 30 years of professional experience working with stress, anxiety, trauma, addictions, and related concerns.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds LCPC and LCSW credentials and is licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin, with practice based in Illinois.
What languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what do they cost?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process of working with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.