Kathryn DeFiore, LCSW

Kathryn DeFiore is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and depression. She emphasizes practical support and gentle guidance so people can take the next steps toward feeling better. Kathryn invites clients to use their own strengths while working through hard moments.

With five years of professional experience, she draws on straightforward methods that focus on problems people face now. Kathryn listens for what matters most and helps set small, doable goals. Sessions are meant to feel collaborative and goal-oriented rather than overly technical.

Her work often addresses caregiver strain, communication problems, control issues, and feelings of guilt or shame. She also supports people coping with isolation, financial stress, seasonal affective disorder, and issues related to sexual assault and post-traumatic stress. Women’s concerns and questions about forgiveness are also among the topics she addresses.

Kathryn uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma-Focused Therapy in her sessions. Those approaches are used to identify unhelpful patterns, build motivation for change, and reduce the impact of traumatic memories on day-to-day life.

She holds LCSW credentials in both Connecticut and Virginia and practices from Connecticut. Kathryn encourages people to take the first step toward change and will work with each person at a pace that feels manageable.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Trauma-Focused Therapy helps people reduce how much past hurt interrupts their present life. It typically involves gentle processing of traumatic memories and building coping skills to manage overwhelming feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and actions that keep problems going. It uses short exercises to change unhelpful thinking and to build new habits for handling anxiety, depression, and stress.

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative way to boost commitment to change. It helps people clarify goals and find their own reasons to take steps forward, especially when motivation feels low.

Kathryn aims to work with each person to choose the right mix of methods based on their needs, goals, and comfort level. She will discuss options openly and adjust the plan as work progresses to keep it useful and realistic.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit regular sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins or sessions that don’t require video when that’s preferable. Licensed professionals can tailor session length and pacing to match everyday schedules and responsibilities.