Dr. Kathleen Ayers , CA Psychologist 18954

Dr. Kathleen Ayers is a clinical psychologist licensed in California since 2001 (CA Psychologist 18954) with more than three decades of experience supporting adults facing chronic medical conditions and persistent pain. She blends cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help people manage symptoms, build coping skills, and pursue meaningful goals even when health challenges are ongoing. She is certified in CBT for insomnia and holds additional certifications related to nutrition and diet - though she is not a dietitian or nutritionist - and she often integrates these perspectives into treatment planning.

Dr. Ayers works with individuals and groups, and she frequently assigns practical exercises between sessions to reinforce new strategies. Her approach acknowledges that past experiences can inform present struggles, and she creates space for exploring those histories while addressing immediate concerns. Having worked for many years with people whose pain and medical complaints have sometimes been met with skepticism, she emphasizes empathy and validation so clients feel heard and believed.

Compassion guides her practice, and she aims to foster a caring, accepting environment where difficult topics can be discussed openly. In addition to more common clinical areas, she has developed an interest in supporting people who report traumatic responses after paranormal experiences.

Therapeutic Approaches Applied to Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify what matters to them and take committed action toward those values while learning to accept difficult thoughts and sensations. It can be useful for chronic pain, anxiety, and adjusting to long-term health challenges.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) examines the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical skills to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. It is often used for insomnia, anxiety, depression, and coping with chronic medical conditions.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, supporting people who struggle with intense emotions, relationship difficulties, or patterns of reactivity.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Ayers works with clients to identify goals, preferences, and the most useful strategies, adjusting methods as therapy progresses to find the best fit for each person.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or while managing medical appointments. These formats offer flexibility for people with mobility limits, complex schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or chronic illness, allowing continuity of care without sacrificing consistency or therapeutic focus.