Kim Connolly, LMFT

Kim Connolly is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 35 years of experience in the field. She has spent much of her career in the nonprofit sector, working with people for both short-term and long-term counseling. Her work has included helping with depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting concerns, relationship strain, and coping with physical pain.

Kim’s style is warm, interactive, and direct when needed. She values moving at each person’s pace and focuses on where a client wants to go and how they want to get there. She often uses humor to ease difficult moments and aims to be honest and straightforward in sessions.

Her background includes a Master’s in Counseling from Sonoma State University and a California LMFT license. Much of her early work began in group homes and community programs, and she continued in nonprofit settings for many years. That history shaped her comfort with a wide range of life challenges and complex histories.

In sessions she adapts methods to fit the client, drawing on client-centered approaches and cognitive methods as needed. She has a long history supporting people who experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and helps clients manage the long-term effects that can follow.

Outside of work she lives near the California coast and is an avid dog lover, with a history of fostering and volunteering with rescue groups. If her approach resonates, clients are invited to begin the intake and scheduling process.

How these approaches work online and in session

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s lead. The therapist creates an accepting space and reflects what the client says to help them find their own answers. This approach can help with self-esteem, relationship concerns, and navigating life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It offers clear strategies to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Sessions often include practical exercises and small homework tasks to try between meetings.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, teaches skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It emphasizes learning tools for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and better communication. These skills can be helpful for strong mood swings, anger, or patterns of self-criticism.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. Treatment can shift as goals change, so methods are adjusted over time through open discussion.

Confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow shorter or more flexible check-ins when needed. Talk with the therapist during intake to plan a session rhythm that fits daily life.