Kathleen Cates-Richardson, LMFT
Compassionate LMFT for relationships and recovery
- Relationship and intimacy support
- Addiction and trauma care
- Collaborative goal setting
About Kathleen Cates-Richardson
Kathleen Cates-Richardson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 16 years of professional experience and active licensure in both Iowa and Arizona. She specializes in areas including addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, and sleep difficulties, and also supports people facing issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care challenges, caregiver stress, and substance use concerns.
Kathleen blends practical therapeutic tools with a warm, nonjudgmental presence to help clients explore feelings, reshape unhelpful patterns, and build healthier connections. She works collaboratively with each person to create a welcoming space where thoughts and emotions can be expressed openly, and where clients are invited to identify goals that matter to them.
Her practice addresses both immediate coping needs and longer-term change, offering approaches suited to mood concerns, relationship strains, trauma recovery, and life transitions. Kathleen emphasizes empowerment and partnership in the therapeutic process, acknowledging that reaching out for help takes courage and that meaningful progress often begins with those first steps toward change.
Clients can expect support aimed at increasing self-understanding, improving communication, and strengthening coping skills so they can move toward a more fulfilling, balanced life.
Kathleen blends practical therapeutic tools with a warm, nonjudgmental presence to help clients explore feelings, reshape unhelpful patterns, and build healthier connections. She works collaboratively with each person to create a welcoming space where thoughts and emotions can be expressed openly, and where clients are invited to identify goals that matter to them.
Her practice addresses both immediate coping needs and longer-term change, offering approaches suited to mood concerns, relationship strains, trauma recovery, and life transitions. Kathleen emphasizes empowerment and partnership in the therapeutic process, acknowledging that reaching out for help takes courage and that meaningful progress often begins with those first steps toward change.
Clients can expect support aimed at increasing self-understanding, improving communication, and strengthening coping skills so they can move toward a more fulfilling, balanced life.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
Sleeping disorders
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSex addictionSexual dysfunctionSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Existential Therapy Jungian Therapy Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Kathleen Cates-Richardson have?
Kathleen Cates-Richardson has 16 years of professional experience.
Is Kathleen Cates-Richardson a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credential LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. License details are: AZ LMFT LMFT-16264 and IA LMFT 000370.
In which languages does Kathleen Cates-Richardson provide therapy?
She provides therapy in English.
Where is Kathleen Cates-Richardson located?
She is located in Iowa.
How can I work with Kathleen Cates-Richardson as my therapist?
You can work with Kathleen Cates-Richardson through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Kathleen Cates-Richardson work with international clients?
Yes, Kathleen Cates-Richardson works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Kathleen Cates-Richardson cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care
Kathleen integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to address a range of concerns. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening with empathy and creating a respectful space where clients guide the pace and focus of work; it is helpful for building self-understanding and strengthening trust in the therapeutic relationship.CBT is a practical approach that helps people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors contributing to depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and patterns that interfere with daily life. DBT offers skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially useful for managing intense emotions, relationship struggles, and challenges related to substance use.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Kathleen will work with each person to explore their needs, goals, and preferences and will adapt methods so therapy feels useful and relevant. This partnership helps determine whether a skills-based, insight-oriented, or combined path is best.
Online therapy allows these approaches to be delivered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to connect from different locations and schedules. These options offer flexibility for ongoing care, easier access during life transitions, and the ability to maintain continuity of support when in-person visits are not practical.
Ready to start therapy with Kathleen Cates-Richardson?
Take the first step toward a better you.