Areas of Expertise
Kates History
Kate possesses a strong background in mental health and support services, having volunteered at Margaret Ann’s Place where she gained significant experience in grief therapy and co-facilitated grief groups. Her role at the Oconomoc Development Training Center involved caring for children and adolescents with mental health and developmental disorders. During her internship with Walworth County Health and Human Services, she various groups, including those focused on parenting and addiction recovery. Furthermore, Kate has spent years working with the Kenosha County Department of Child and Family Services, concentrating on trauma, substance abuse, and parenting for adjudicated youth and their families. She also gained experience at Rogers Memorial Hospital in multiple departments, including substance abuse and trauma care for adolescents. Kate has since refined her expertise to focus on assisting adults dealing with past trauma.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is by far the most effective therapeutic process I use. Research proves EMDR to be extremely effeciteve primarily with PTSD. As many other clinicians who use EMDR, Kate has found EMDR to be highly successful with anxiety and depressive disorders. The best thing about EMDR is that the process is more effective and shorter in duration as opposed to psychotherapeutic modalities including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Brainspotting
Brainspotting was discovered while a clinician was using EMDR. The discovery of body responses, including eye or body movements indicating areas of discomfort while using a bi-laterall stimulation(BLS) method of moving the eyes from the far left to the far right. These spots of which cause physical responses are believed to indicate the area in the brain of which the trauma is stored. Brainspotting uses these particular "spots" to process trauma verbally. Brainspotting is as effective as EMDR - some studies show either to be superior.
Cognitive Behavioral Thearpy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a common psychotherapy (talk therapy) that allows you to work with your therapist to identify problem thought processes and reframe them using various coping skills enabling a change in perspective. This enables the client to see things more clearly and regulate/manage their emotions more effectively.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) was derived from CBT and originally designed to treat Borderline Personality disorder. There are many Intensive Outpatient and Inpatient programs that use this modality of therapy as a structured teaching process. There are many specific areas taught. Some of which are self-regulation, mindfulness, thought stopping techniques, interpersonal relationship skills. DBT is now widely used for many other mental health problems and can be used in sections as well as tendemly with other therapeutic modalities.
My Approach
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Having personally experienced the healing power of EMDR, I found it to be truly liberating. Through my own journey of processing past trauma, I’ve gained deep insight into people, relationships, and family dynamics. Meditation has also become one of the most valuable skills I’ve learned — helping me cultivate a non-judgmental attitude toward myself and others. This daily practice fosters compassion and self-acceptance, both of which are essential to emotional growth and healing.
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As a psychotherapist, my approach is eclectic. I integrate elements from various therapeutic modalities to meet each client’s unique needs. My passion lies in helping individuals process past trauma through EMDR, which can shift perspectives and resolve deeply held negative beliefs that often surface as triggers in relationships, self-care, or self-judgment.
Over time, I’ve learned that most experiences of depression, anxiety, or phobias are closely linked to unresolved trauma. These traumas may range from seemingly small moments — such as being belittled or dismissed — to major experiences of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, accidents, or natural disasters.
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EMDR and Brainspotting can also be powerful tools for processing grief. While the longing for a loved one may never fully disappear, EMDR helps lessen the physical pain of loss and dissolve the self-blame or guilt that often accompanies it. Healing does not mean forgetting — it means finding peace and allowing yourself to move forward with compassion.
