LCSW, 15 years of experience
New to Grow
I’m Dr. Katherine (Katie) Crawford, a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience that combines direct clinical practice, teaching future social workers, and trauma-informed program evaluation. I help adults navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity, resilience, and self-compassion. Many of the people I work with are facing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, or major life transitions—especially when they feel stuck in old patterns or disconnected from themselves. My approach is grounded and evidence-based, drawing from CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and attachment-focused work. In therapy, we work together to better understand your emotions, build inner stability, and reconnect with what matters most. My goal is to create a space where you feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward—not by becoming someone new, but by returning to the truest version of yourself. If you'd like to learn more information about me- my website is: https://www.thejourneyhometherapy.com/
Our first session where we begin building a strong therapeutic foundation—one that’s rooted in trust, understanding, and collaboration. I’ll ask a variety of questions to get a fuller picture of your life. This includes historical information, as well as how you see yourself and the world around you. We’ll explore what’s bringing you to therapy and what you'd like to focus on moving forward. These conversations help me understand both the challenges you're facing and the strengths you bring to the process. That said, you are always in control of what you share. You never have to answer anything you're not comfortable with. We’ll move at your pace, and I’ll always respect your boundaries. This first session isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about beginning a relationship where you feel safe, supported, and understood. It's a starting point for meaningful work that can help you feel more grounded, connected, and equipped to handle what life brings.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to show up fully—with steadiness, curiosity, and compassion—no matter what someone is carrying. I create a space where clients feel safe enough to be real, supported enough to grow, and empowered to make changes that feel authentic and lasting. With over 15 years of experience in clinical, academic, and community settings, I bring both breadth and depth to my work. Much of my career has been spent advocating for trauma survivors, people navigating the criminal justice system, and unhoused individuals—experiences that have shaped my understanding of systemic harm, resilience, and the human capacity to heal in relationships and connection with others. I’ve had the privilege of teaching and mentoring future social workers in graduate programs, supporting their career development and clinical skill-building. I created and refined a graduate course on trauma-informed practice, which I taught for several years—experience that continues to shape how I help clients understand their nervous system, build emotional safety, and navigate their inner world with clarity and self-trust. I integrate evidence-based practices like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and attachment-focused therapy in a way that’s tailored, collaborative, and responsive to the person in front of me. Clients often share that they feel seen, grounded, and able to reconnect with themselves—that therapy is a place where they can move forward with intention and self-trust. Ultimately, what makes me effective isn’t just what I know—it’s how I show up. I bring my clinical training, lived experience, and deep respect for human complexity into every session, while highlighting the strengths and resilience that make healing possible.
I work best with people who are thoughtful and ready for change—even if they’re not sure where to start. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck in old patterns, weighed down by self-doubt, or disconnected from themselves. Often, they’ve been holding it all together on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside. You may be navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship stress, grief, or the lasting impact of trauma. You might be questioning who you are, or noticing how old wounds keep showing up in new ways. You may be highly capable in many areas of life, yet still find yourself second-guessing your worth, overextending for others, or feeling like you’ve lost your own voice. If you want to understand yourself more deeply—not just to cope, but to truly grow—I can help. Together, we’ll work to untangle the knots, build emotional resilience, and move forward in ways that reflect your values, not your fears. Therapy with me isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about coming home to yourself—with clarity, compassion, and strength.
I use CBT because it helps clients understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. I use this approach to help clients identify patterns of negative thinking that are keeping them stuck in anxiety, depression, or self-doubt. Together, we challenge unhelpful beliefs and practice new, more adaptive ways of responding to stress. CBT is especially effective for individuals dealing with anxiety disorders, depression, perfectionism, and stress-related concerns. It’s also a good fit for people who appreciate structure, goal-setting, and practical tools they can apply outside of sessions.
I also use DBT because blends cognitive strategies with mindfulness and emotional regulation skills. I draw on DBT to help clients navigate overwhelming emotions, tolerate distress without reacting impulsively, and communicate more effectively in relationships. It’s a powerful approach for building internal stability, especially when emotions feel all-consuming. DBT is especially useful for people experiencing emotional dysregulation, trauma responses, mood disorders, and interpersonal conflict. It’s also supportive for those who identify as highly sensitive or have a history of invalidating environments.
Mindfulness helps people slow down, observe their internal world, and respond rather than react. I integrate mindfulness practices—like grounding, breathwork, and compassionate self-observation—into therapy to support nervous system regulation and emotional awareness. This creates space for intentionality, especially when navigating stress or uncertainty. Mindfulness-based approaches benefit clients facing anxiety, burnout, chronic stress, or trauma. It’s especially helpful for people who feel disconnected from their bodies, overwhelmed by internal noise, or stuck in fight/flight/freeze patterns.
Attachment theory explores how early relationships shape our current sense of self and others. I help clients recognize how past attachment wounds may still be influencing their relationships, self-esteem, and emotional triggers today. We work gently and compassionately to rewire those internal templates—not to erase the past, but to heal and grow beyond it. This work is powerful for people struggling with relationship difficulties, people-pleasing, abandonment fears, trust issues, or internalized shame. It’s also deeply resonant for clients who feel like they’re “too much,” “not enough,” or still carrying dynamics from childhood.