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Kathy Rubendall

Kathy Rubendall, LCSW

North Carolina

Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Family patterns and coping

See online therapy options
  • Family of origin issues
  • Depression and anxiety
  • CBT and DBT informed

About Kathy

Kathy Rubendall is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in North Carolina with 30 years of practice. She sees adults dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, addiction, bipolar disorder, and relationship and family concerns. She also lists work with adoption- and attachment-related issues and caregiving stress.

Kathy uses a client-centered approach that prioritizes each person's goals. She blends cognitive behavioral tools with problem-solving and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and motivational interviewing. Sessions focus on practical steps, skill building, and clearer thinking about choices.

In the room she listens for patterns that started in the family people grew up in. She helps people notice how those early roles and expectations shape current behavior and relationships. Conversations tend to include specific strategies to change unhelpful thinking and interaction habits.

Kathy also draws on solution-focused methods to identify small, achievable changes. For people facing addiction, eating or sleep issues, or chronic illness, she works on concrete coping strategies and routines. For those dealing with career transition or performance anxiety, sessions emphasize manageable behavioral changes.

Her experience includes work related to international adoption and attachment concerns, and she has supported clients connected to military service. People can expect an interactive style that centers on respect and practical problem solving.

How Kathy’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on each person’s goals and priorities. In practice this means the therapist listens, reflects what she hears, and helps set achievable targets. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches concrete ways to change thinking and behavior, which can be practiced between sessions and tracked over time. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, with practical exercises for stress and relationship patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then adapt session methods collaboratively. That may mean trying a CBT exercise one week and a solution-focused step the next to see what helps most.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by reducing travel and allowing for shorter check-ins when needed. They also make it simpler to practice skills between meetings and to bring real-life examples from daily routines into conversation. Licensed professionals can use video or phone in ways that match a client's needs, and Kathy will work with clients to choose what fits best.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseEating disordersSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Drug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersParanoiaPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Smoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

30+ years

Listed in

North Carolina

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?

She works with adults facing depression, anxiety, grief, addiction, bipolar disorder, relationship and family concerns, and related issues such as caregiver stress and body image.

How would you describe her therapy style?

She uses a client-centered, interactive style focused on practical problem solving and skill building. Conversations emphasize specific steps and clearer thinking about choices.

How much experience does she bring?

She has 30 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in North Carolina.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is an LCSW licensed in North Carolina and practices with that credential in that state.

Does she work in other languages or with international clients?

Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients.

Which session formats does she offer?

Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

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Kathy RubendallLCSW

See online therapy options