Katherine "Kate" McDonald

Katherine "Kate" McDonald is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) based in Colorado. She aims to meet people where they are and listen without judgment. Kate focuses on practical steps to help people move forward from stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, and relationship or family struggles.

Kate uses clear, down-to-earth language in sessions and works alongside clients to clarify goals. She often draws on mindfulness techniques to help people notice strong emotions and respond differently instead of reacting. She also uses acceptance and commitment ideas and cognitive-based strategies to build coping skills and reduce unhelpful patterns.

Her path to counseling began with undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in forensic psychology from the University of Denver. Over 13 years she has worked mainly in community mental health with adolescents and adults, focusing on addiction, trauma, and mood or anxiety difficulties. Those years shaped a practical style that balances mental and body-focused work.

Kate has experience with a wide range of concerns, including grief, parenting strain, sleep problems, ADHD, intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue. She also supports people dealing with blended family issues, communication struggles, body image, and substance use concerns. Her training includes clinical methods that attend to the mind-body connection in trauma work.

Outside of clinical work she enjoys being outdoors, knitting, bullet journaling, and tending to houseplants. To begin, readers are invited to follow the site’s start process and share what they need so sessions can be tailored to personal goals.

Using mindfulness and active approaches in online sessions

Kate draws from Mindfulness Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Client-Centered Therapy in her work. Mindfulness Therapy helps people become aware of thoughts and feelings without getting swept away by them, which can reduce reactivity to stress and anxiety. ACT focuses on clarifying values and taking manageable action even when difficult emotions are present, useful for depression, addiction, and life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's experience, offering empathic listening and space to reflect so people can find their own solutions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Kate collaborates with each person to identify which methods fit their goals and preferences. She adjusts tools over time so sessions remain relevant as needs change.

Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Some approaches translate well to remote sessions - mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral exercises, and values-focused planning can all be used in conversation and through between-session activities. If you have questions about how a particular method will be used online, ask during the initial scheduling step.