Cathi Brisart, LCSW

Cathi Brisart, LCSW offers calm, direct support for people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and major life changes. She writes plainly about hard experiences and focuses on practical steps people can take to feel steadier. Her work is grounded in everyday conversation and coping strategies rather than jargon.

Cathi has practiced since 2013 and holds a Master of Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University, where she graduated with honors. She is licensed as a clinical social worker in Connecticut and brings 12 years of experience to sessions. Her background includes work with trauma, depression, and relationship strain.

In sessions she listens closely and helps clients notice what matters most to them. She uses common-sense tools from approaches like cognitive behavioral work and mindfulness to help change unhelpful thoughts and reactions. Emotion-focused ideas guide conversations about connection and attachment, while dialectical skills support regulation during strong emotions.

She also addresses practical issues such as parenting stress, blended family challenges, communication problems, and career-related strain. Cathi can help people manage feelings tied to illness, bereavement, abandonment, and codependency. Her aim is to make therapy relatable and useful for day-to-day life.

People interested in starting can expect straightforward guidance, concrete coping strategies, and a collaborative pace. The first steps involve a short questionnaire and scheduling so therapy can fit into existing routines.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on understanding each person’s perspective and building a trusting, respectful relationship. It helps when someone needs a listening space to sort feelings and make choices that fit their life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and offers practical steps to shift unhelpful patterns; it is often useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, teaches skills for managing intense emotions and improving how people cope day to day, which can be helpful during crises or when emotions feel overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods match their goals, needs, and preferences. That choice can change over time as priorities shift or as different challenges arise.

Session formats are not specified in the profile, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. For example, some people find video sessions helpful for deeper conversation, while others prefer phone check-ins when they need a quicker meeting or have limited bandwidth. Licensed professionals can adapt tools like mindfulness exercises and CBT worksheets to work well in remote sessions.