Cathy Heaps-Stetson , LMHC

Cathy Heaps-Stetson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with three decades of experience supporting, educating, and counseling people across a wide range of life challenges. She holds a master’s degree from Argosy University - Sarasota and is also certified by Grief Recovery as a Grief Recovery Specialist, training that informs her work with loss and bereavement.

Throughout her career she has worked with individuals facing significant medical diagnoses, those coping with loss, and people encountering other major life barriers. Cathy believes that many problems surface most clearly after a major change or loss, and she focuses on helping clients navigate those pivotal moments with compassion and practical tools. Her practice blends several therapeutic methods to meet each person where they are.

Cathy uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and restructure unhelpful thoughts, and she teaches mindfulness and relaxation techniques to support greater awareness of emotions and bodily responses. Grounded in a client-centered, Rogerian approach, she offers reflective listening, empathy, and a non-directive stance that honors each person’s capacity to find answers within themselves. She asks thoughtful, sometimes challenging questions and stays alongside clients as they explore decisions and barriers to well-being.

Her work emphasizes respect, patience, and collaboration, with the aim of helping people build confidence, clarify values, and move forward from grief, trauma, anxiety, or life transitions.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Therapy

Cathy commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness Therapy in her practice. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating an empathic, supportive environment where the therapist listens reflectively and helps the client explore their own goals and values - this approach supports growth and self-directed change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing new ways of thinking and behaving; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and problem-solving during life transitions. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and simple relaxation skills to reduce reactivity and increase emotional regulation, which can help with stress, grief, and coping with change.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Cathy works with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time so therapy remains practical and relevant.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging offer flexibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limits, or caregiving responsibilities. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver consistent, ongoing support and practical skills training without requiring in-person visits, making it easier to maintain progress across life’s changes.