Catherine Brenen , LMSW

Catherine Brenen is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 16 years of experience in mental health care. She works with adults facing a wide range of concerns, including stress and anxiety, substance use, depression, interpersonal and family issues, trauma, health-related challenges, and life changes associated with aging. Her clinical background supports work across grief, intimacy concerns, eating and parenting challenges, mood disorders, and coping during transitions.

Her practice is grounded in respect, empathy, and a stated faith in God and people, which inform a warm and engaging therapeutic presence. She does not use judgment, fear-based tactics, or condemnation, and she emphasizes unconditional positive regard while supporting clients as they pursue a higher quality of life. Catherine blends solution-focused methods with client-centered, dialectical, and cognitive-behavioral techniques, and she may integrate psychodynamic elements when appropriate.

Catherine tailors conversations and treatment plans to each person’s specific circumstances, preferences, and goals. Her approach centers on collaboration and practical strategies to address immediate concerns while building long-term coping skills. She describes her role as one of support and partnership as clients work toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Catherine Brenen uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a collaborative space where the client's goals and values guide the work; this approach emphasizes empathy, active listening, and building a trusting therapeutic relationship to address concerns like relationship conflict, self-esteem, and life transitions.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and developing practical coping skills that can be practiced between sessions. In addition, Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques are applied to help clients build emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, particularly when mood instability or intense emotions are present.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Catherine works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals and then tailors strategies from these approaches to fit the individual. This partnership helps identify what feels most helpful and effective over time.

Online therapy with a licensed professional offers flexibility and accessibility. Sessions can take place by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing clients to engage from home or other convenient locations and to choose the format that best supports their schedule and comfort.