Katherine "Kate" McDonald , LPC, LPCC

Katherine "Kate" McDonald is a licensed counselor who approaches therapy from a stance of respect for each person's inherent worth and dignity. She meets individuals where they are, listens closely, and works collaboratively to identify needs and goals and to plan practical steps forward.

Born and raised in Virginia, she completed undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University before moving to Colorado in 2012 to earn a master’s degree in forensic psychology from the University of Denver. Over a 13-year career she has worked mainly in community mental health settings with adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds, developing specialization in addiction, trauma, mood disorders, and anxiety.

Katherine holds LPC and LPCC credentials, which are professional counseling licenses, and she integrates evidence-based practices into her work. She commonly draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and mindfulness-based strategies, and she has training in Brainspotting to support healing through the mind-body connection. In 2021 she relocated to the United Kingdom and has professional experience as a counsellor for the National Health Service and as a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy while maintaining her Colorado licensure.

Outside of her clinical roles she enjoys spending time outdoors with family, knitting, bullet journaling, and caring for houseplants. She recognizes that reaching out for support can be difficult and honors the effort it takes to seek help.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Support

Katherine often draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify what matters most to them and to take committed steps toward those values even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise. This approach can be helpful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT is practical and skills-focused, which can support work on mood disorders, anxiety, sleep, and coping with cravings in addiction recovery.

Mindfulness-based techniques are woven into her practice to increase present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity to stress. These practices can support regulation of emotion and build resilience after trauma.

Finding the best therapeutic approach is part of the work itself. Katherine works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies over time as the work evolves.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from different locations, fit sessions into busy schedules, and continue care through life changes while still working with therapists who use evidence-informed approaches.