Dr. Kate Dunn is fully booked.
Greetings! My name is Dr. Kate Dunn. I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY32472) with eight years of experience treating many different mental health diagnoses, challenges, and symptoms. I have a background working with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, addictive behaviors, and psychosis. I have specific clinical training and experience treating trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I see clients of all ages 18+ utilizing a tailored, culturally-sensitive, empathic, and related approach. I blend humanistic, existential, and cognitive behavioral philosophies depending on the comfort and preferences of each client. I strongly believe that cultivating a safe and trusting therapeutic connection creates the foundation for meaningful growth and healing. My ultimate goal is that therapy is a positive and beneficial experience for each person that I work with. In my free time I enjoy yoga, meditation, good food, and walks with my dog Hazel.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our first session I will first go over the basics and structure of the therapeutic process. We will then likely discuss what you would like to get out of treatment, what goals or ideas you may have for sessions, or any life stressors/difficulties you may want to work on. The initial session will have a heavy focus on your comfort as well as my intention to get a full clinical picture of how I can best assist your personal journey. I will review your intake paperwork before the appointment which will be lightly addressed in collaboration. If you prefer to complete the intake paperwork during the initial session, the session will be more structured to incorporate pertinent background information. At the end of session I like to check-in to see how you are feeling and discuss your preferred next steps of therapy. Subsequent follow-up sessions will be tailored and structured to whatever we decide is the best course of action for your own therapeutic experience.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I believe that a positive rapport and clinical relationship is the primary mechanism for a successful therapeutic experience. I place strong emphasis on taking a client-centered approach with authenticity, creativity, use of connectivity, ongoing transparency, and humor when indicated.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I work with adults (over the age of 18), and older adults (65+). I have affinity for and experience in strengths-based approaches, multicultural and culturally-sensitive therapy, feminist philosophies, LGBTQIA+ affirmative approaches, disability and chronic illness-sensitive therapy. I also thoroughly enjoy working with older adults and the psychology of aging. Much of my work and training has been focused on PTSD, trauma-informed therapy, and trauma-centered treatment. My philosophy is primarily humanistic and existential, however I also implement cognitive and behavioral interventions when appropriate.
About Dr. Kate Dunn
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Humanistic
My primary theoretical orientation is humanistic/existential. Research frequently shows that creating a trusting and safe therapeutic alliance is the most important variable for positive treatment outcomes. This is consistent with my clinical experience. I have seen clients report the most success when they feel supported in a collaborative, authentic, and non-judgmental manner. Clients are then more readily able to identify their strengths, their opportunities for positive growth, and their continued areas of self-efficacy. This ultimately helps clients as they develop and continually cultivate a more connected and accepting relationship with themselves.
Existential
Existential psychology can be incredibly valuable to implement in sessions. Clients report this modality can be particularly beneficial when processing trauma and painful life experiences. With existential psychology there is a primary focus on working through pain with use of meaning making, articulating a deeper sense of lived purpose and connection (when indicated or appropriate to do so). Life can at times be very difficult. Existential psychology can be valuable and poignant, as clients learn to regain a sense of resiliency while processing challenging things in their own lives.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Clients frequently report that certain environmental changes in their day-to-day lives can help to mitigate their mental health symptoms. This can include certain behavioral ideas and interventions to facilitate self-care, areas of enjoyment, a more adaptive pace, or a more comfortable set of personal boundaries. I frequently find that it can be helpful to identify and process cognitive interventions in collaboration, as thinking about certain stressors or challenges in different ways can provide positive changes or outcomes for clients. Identifying thinking patterns, finding areas of gratitude, and challenging certain skewed perceptions can be valuable and empowering, when clinically indicated to do so.