Katherine Holleran
I am a motivated and engaged therapist who enjoys meeting my clients where they are at and strives to create a meaningful, safe connection that allows the therapeutic work to progress. I have been in the field going on 10 years and have worked in various settings including: schools, day-treatment programs, outpatient programs, shelters, and nursing homes. I bring well-rounded experiences to my work and am passionate in the work I do with my clients. I enjoy attending concerts, playing and watching sports, spending time with my family and friends, and any pet-related discussion!
First session
In our first session, clients can expect a welcoming, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where we begin getting to know one another. My goal is to help clients feel comfortable sharing at their own pace while also gathering information that will help guide our work together. During the intake session, we will typically discuss what brings the client to therapy, current stressors or challenges, emotional and mental health history, relationships, coping strategies, strengths, and goals for treatment. I also like to learn about what is important to each client beyond their struggles - including: their interests, values, supports, and what they hope life might look like if therapy feels helpful.
Strengths
Strong emotional attunement, balancing validation and growth, warm and approachable, trauma-informed, promote safety in the therapeutic space.
Ideal clients
I work with teens and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem concerns, emotional overwhelm, and challenges within peer or interpersonal relationships. I strive to create a supportive, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel safe to explore their experiences, build insight, and develop practical tools for everyday life. My approach is rooted in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and strengths-based therapy. I help clients strengthen emotional regulation, coping skills, communication, and self-understanding while recognizing and building upon the resilience and strengths they already possess. I believe healing and growth happen through a balance of validation, skill-building, self-compassion, and empowerment, and I tailor therapy to meet each client’s unique needs and goals.
Treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
In my work, I use DBT to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and environments. I often incorporate DBT skills to support clients with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, and self-validation. These skills can be especially helpful for individuals who experience intense emotions, relationship difficulties, anxiety, self-criticism, or feeling overwhelmed by stress.
Strength-Based
I use a strengths-based approach in my therapy practice because I believe clients are more than their symptoms, struggles, or diagnoses. Every person comes into therapy with existing strengths, resilience, values, and capacities for growth, even when they may have difficulty recognizing them on their own. My role is not only to help clients process challenges, but also to help them reconnect with the parts of themselves that are capable, adaptive, and worthy of trust.
Trauma-Informed Care
I use trauma-informed care in my therapy practice by recognizing the widespread impact trauma can have on a person’s emotional, relational, physical, and psychological well-being. I understand that trauma can influence how individuals experience safety, trust, relationships, emotional regulation, and their sense of self. Because of this, I strive to create a therapeutic environment that feels safe, collaborative, empowering, and nonjudgmental.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- MassachusettsLicense LICSW124912