Cathy Heaps-Stetson , LMHC

Cathy Heaps-Stetson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida with 30 years of experience helping people navigate loss, trauma, anxiety, and major life changes. She holds a masters degree from Argosy University - Sarasota and is certified by Grief Recovery as a Grief Recovery Specialist. Her long career has included educating, training, counseling, and supporting individuals facing a range of challenges, from terminal illness to complex bereavement and relationship difficulties.

Cathy draws on several complementary approaches to tailor care to each person. She practices client-centered therapy, offering an empathic, non-directive, and supportive stance that honors each individuals capacity for self-discovery. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and restructure unhelpful thoughts, and she teaches mindfulness and relaxation skills to help clients notice automatic emotional and behavioral responses and regain calm. Her training in grief recovery informs compassionate, practical support for those coping with loss.

Known for reflective listening and a steady, collaborative presence, Cathy encourages clients to explore difficult questions and make decisions that align with their values. She emphasizes that clients hold their own answers while providing guidance, compassion, and tools to move past barriers to greater wellbeing. Her style is person-centered, supportive, and focused on helping people build confidence as they work toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Cathy Heaps-Stetson

Cathy integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness practices to support clients in an online setting. Client-centered therapy centers on empathic listening and a non-directive stance, helping people explore feelings and values so they can find their own solutions. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and reshaping unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, which can be especially helpful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life transitions. Mindfulness practices teach awareness of present-moment thoughts and physical sensations and can reduce reactivity while improving emotional regulation.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Cathy works with each person to understand their goals, preferences, and challenges, and she adapts techniques from different models to suit individual needs. Clients are invited to actively participate in deciding which methods feel most useful for their situation.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can occur by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit counseling into busy schedules, manage caregiving responsibilities, or access support from home. Licensed professionals can deliver the same therapeutic skills remotely, helping clients progress through structured techniques, reflective listening, and skill building without needing to travel.