Client Reviews

Before we started counseling, I was seriously considering divorce. My husband and I had been married for more than a decade. Despite expertly playing the part of a privileged and productive pair, our relationship felt to me like a dark, lonely path. We seemed to have the same fights on repeat, changing nothing but our clothes. Anger, frustration, and exhaustion were closing in, and I lost sight of brighter possibilities ahead.

Then we met Kat. Our sessions didn't follow a rigid agenda, but quickly I felt secure that we were on a proven course with an expert guide. Kat is a warm listener and a fiercely intelligent observer. She encourages curiosity and compassion. She is deeply knowledgeable in her field. She also makes me laugh (at the right moments).

Kat has taught me that, although frustrations with a partner may always be valid, these are "trailheads" not targets. The deeper I can explore these paths, the more I understand about us and, importantly, myself. With that awareness, I can get better at managing my responses to the next difficult situation that life delivers. And that helps me hang onto hope.

I truly believe Kat helped pull our marriage out of the woods. We're still walking our trail, but we've found our way back into the light. Back into our friendship. We're not perfect. We still fight. But I feel us taking steps in rhythm again. I feel us moving forward, side by side, growing a little bit wiser and stronger every day.

We have had the pleasure of working with Kat at various points in our relationship over the years. We initially started seeing Kat for support with some conflict areas where we felt stuck. Kat helped us not only find new ways to approach those areas but also to reframe the way we think about our relationship overall. We left with the tools we needed for our relationship to thrive.

We came back to Kat again after the birth of our first child for a relationship tune-up in our new lives. Kat is insightful, empathetic, and professional. After trying various therapists throughout our marriage, Kat is the only person we have found who is truly effective and holistic in her approach. She is hands down the best investment we have made in our marriage.

What makes Kat a wonderful therapist is how well she really connects with her clients in order to really understand and help them in their journey of betterment and a better relationship. She has helped my partner and I learn how to effectively communicate and appreciate each other so much more by providing us tools to help our relationship and connect. She has a very comforting, relaxed presence that makes it easy to open up and begin the work quickly.

One of the most remarkable things I can recall was our first couples’ session. I expected to go into it talking about all the things my partner was doing wrong, but instead, we spent the time talking about some of the highlights of our relationship. I left the very first session feeling more connected to my partner than I had in months and knew then Kat was the perfect therapist for us and our relationship. We went from having disagreements almost daily because of our struggle to communicate with each other, to being able to avoid those disagreements most of the time because we know how to talk to each other and listen to each other’s needs. When disagreements do come up, we are able to easily navigate them using the techniques Kat has taught us during our sessions to resolve them quickly and amicably so we can get back to what is important, having a happy healthy relationship.

My husband and I initially chose to start therapy with Kat based on her Gottman training. Two years later, her skill and expertise far surpass what I expected. She has a sophisticated awareness of the Gottman philosophy based on listening and understanding, beyond general concepts and concrete skills. Her ability to listen and ask intentional questions has helped me better understand my own assumptions, thoughts, and behavior. I have consistently felt as if she’s on both my side and my husband’s side (how?), but most of all, she’s on the side of our marriage.

Kat brings a non-judgmental approach that has helped me stay focused on learning and growing as a partner, even if something regrettable has happened. She has been able to see dynamics my partner and I could not initially recognize and offered ideas of what could be happening. She has been gentle and reassuring but at the same time does not shy away from being direct. Her ability to keep both of us meaningful engaged is truly incredible.

Kat talks about vulnerability specifically and it’s importance in doing relationship work. Judgment has no place in her counseling sessions. She’s created a space for us to explore some of the most difficult conversations we’ve ever had. She stays present enough in our vulnerability that she can even challenge us to look at potential biases or ineffective patterns. And the whole time, she has so much reassurance and encouragement! She’s infused a depth of calm into our marriage that has spread into life outside of counseling.

I first started seeing Kat for couples therapy with my partner almost 9 years ago. I had always thought the idea of therapy was good, but being vulnerable and having to talk about feelings was my idea of hell. So on starting with Kat I was very guarded and prickly to say the least. Kat was patient, kind, firm, and clearly experienced. She gained both my and my husband's trust quickly. Quite the feat to say the least.

In the 9 years since of working with Kat in individual and couples therapy I have learned that she does many things well including: not picking sides, being empathetic, working with different learning types, calling you out on your bad behavior in a way that you can hear it, setting goals for improvement. I am incredibly grateful to have found Kat and have her in my life. I attribute the success of my marriage and much of my personal growth to Kat. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking to improve communication in their relationship, and please start before you think you need to!

…I was not comfortable with sharing my thoughts and feelings and was concerned my thoughts or questions would be used against me in some way.

After just a few visits, I could tell Kat was a sincere person with a keen sense of understanding. She helped me to open up and want to get past my internal struggles and mental turmoil that had been keeping me stuck and my marriage from turning over a new leaf. Kat helped me to feel comfortable about turning towards my wife rather than turning away and self protecting, as I had done in the past. I have learned to pause, and take a break when I get flooded and overwhelmed, step back, and ask for a time out.

I have used the skills Kat helped me develop in my personal and professional relationships. Looking back to where I was two years ago, prior to working with Kat, versus today, I can say it was a blessing to have met Kat and gone through the process. I’m in a good place in my relationship and feel very confident about moving forward. My gratitude goes out to Kat for all she has done for me and my personal development.

-Kirt