About Cathy O'Brien
Clientele seen
Teenagers (13-17)
Seniors (65+)
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Treatment approaches
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Strength-Based
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative
Identity
Gender
FemaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Cathy O'Brien
I became a therapist because I believe that clarity changes everything — and that most women I know, including myself, have spent too much time managing everyone else's needs before their own. I work with women of all ages, and what brings them to me is rarely one thing. It is usually a slow accumulation: a relationship that takes more than it gives, a health crisis that reshapes everything, or the quiet but persistent feeling that something needs to change. I am also a cancer survivor, a mother of a grown son and daughter, and divorced — which means I bring both professional training and real lived experience to this work.
My work is practical and honest. We focus on what is actually happening in your life — your relationships, your patterns, the decisions that feel harder than they should — and we slow things down enough to understand them clearly. I specialize in working with women navigating emotionally draining or imbalanced relationships, including those shaped by manipulation, chronic conflict, or ongoing volatility. That work is close to my heart because I know how disorienting it can feel to lose your footing in a dynamic that is hard to name. Part of the work is simply that: finding the words and then finding your way back to yourself.
Together, we rebuild that footing.
What should a new client know about working with you?
Women who come to work with me have made a deliberate choice to invest in themselves, to get clearer, stronger, and more grounded in what they want and how they want to live. That is exactly the kind of energy we build on together.
I am warm and I am direct, and as we work I will help you develop practical tools you can actually use, ways of thinking and responding that travel with you into your life and beyond our time together. What I want every woman who works with me to feel is this: that she is thinking clearly, trusting herself, and making decisions that actually reflect what she values. This space is genuinely yours, where you can slow down, speak openly, and get clearer on who you are and what you want.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
We start by getting to know each other. I want to understand the full shape of your life, where you are, where you want to go, and what getting there actually looks like for you.
Our work together is conversation based and rooted in the present. I am primarily influenced by Gestalt therapy, which means we focus on what is happening for you right now, what you are feeling, thinking, and experiencing today. We look at you as a whole person and we work from a place of personal responsibility and present moment awareness. That said, the past matters. Patterns have roots, and so does trauma. Where your history is shaping what is happening today, we will look at it honestly and use it to make sense of the present rather than dwell in it.
I ask a lot of questions and I listen carefully, to what you are saying and to the patterns underneath it. Over time we build a shared understanding of what is happening and why certain things feel the way they do. From there we work on practical ways to think and respond differently, small shifts that tend to create real change.
You will leave each conversation with something tangible, a new perspective, a clearer sense of what you want, or a concrete tool to take with you into your week.
Is this doctor in your insurance network?
Enter your insurance carrier and plan
choose insurance
In-network insurances
Cathy O'Brien, LMSW, MSW has 200+ in-network plans.
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Columbia University, Master's in Social Work
NPI number
1861326431
How soon can I make an appointment with Cathy O'Brien?
Generally, Cathy O'Brien has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Cathy O'Brien's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Cathy O'Brien accepting new patients?
Cathy O'Brien generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Cathy O'Brien's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Cathy O'Brien accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Cathy O'Brien is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Cathy O'Brien online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Cathy O'Brien using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Cathy O'Brien work with?
Cathy O'Brien works with Sol Health.
What are common reasons for patients to see Cathy O'Brien?
Cathy O'Brien frequently sees patients for New Patient Visit, Pain Management Consultation, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Cathy O'Brien on their profile.
What languages does Cathy O'Brien speak?
Cathy O'Brien speaks English.