Kathleen O'Connor

I am a Master’s Prepared Clinical Social Worker with diverse experience. I have a passion for helping others to achieve their goals and realize their full potential. As part of my MSW program I participated in a multi-disciplinary consortium and earned a certificate, Specialized Mental Health Provider, focusing on the severely mentally ill and the dually diagnosed. I am currently licensed in Massachusetts as an LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) and was previously licensed in both Indiana and Ohio and have also held certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor in Ohio. I have over 25 years’ experience providing direct service in a variety of settings to clients ages 3 to 102. I began my journey as a Social Services Director in a 114-bed nursing home in 1995 and have worked with folks in a variety of settings including but not limited to substance abuse treatment, criminal justice settings, dialysis clinics, psychiatric emergency rooms, and in the community. I have worked in rural areas and the inner city and have provided in home therapy as well as community-based crisis and most recently have been providing telehealth via phone and video during the pandemic. I believe that the key is to meet the you where you are currently, empower you and travel with you to where you are going (goal); whether this is a short-term connection or journey of several years depends on you and the complexity of your goal. My counseling style is interactive, with frequent checking in to ensure that I am hearing you and maintain open communication. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don’t believe in stigmatizing labels. Although my current approach primarily combines motivational interviewing, mindfulness, CBT, DBT, and TFCBT; I am always seeking to learn new things and will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and by coming here and searching you have already taken the first step towards a change. If you are ready to take the next step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!