Therapist profile
Catherine Brenen, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker - Family and parenting concerns
Continue with CatherineAbout
- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Catherine
Catherine Brenen is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with 16 years of clinical experience. She focuses on common life stresses such as anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, substance use, trauma, grief, and parenting strains. Catherine often helps people who are navigating caregiving, aging-related issues, or major life changes.
Her approach centers on listening and clear, practical conversation. She combines client-centered work with cognitive-behavioral and dialectical strategies. Mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing are part of how she shapes a session when helpful.
Sessions aim to identify small, workable steps rather than overwhelming plans. Conversations cover coping skills, communication patterns, and decision points relevant to daily life. She also addresses intimacy-related concerns, eating problems, anger, and self-esteem in ways that connect to real routines and relationships.
Catherine notes a focus on blended family challenges, caregiver stress, and substance use concerns alongside attachment and personality-related issues. She can help with separation and divorce topics, codependency, and problems that occur when several conditions are present together.
Her style is described by her as engaging and framed by respect and positive regard. She avoids judgment and fear-based tactics and works with clients to set practical goals. To begin, readers are asked to use the online matching and scheduling flow to arrange a first session.
How sessions work
How her approaches are used in online sessions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress that affect daily routines. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on building practical skills for emotion regulation, tolerance of distress, and better communication. It can help with anger, intense feelings, and relationship tension. Client-Centered Therapy centers the conversation on the person's goals and experience, with the therapist listening and reflecting to help clarify priorities and next steps.Deciding which approach fits best is part of the work. Catherine will collaborate with each person to weigh goals, preferences, and what has or has not helped before. That shared decision helps shape which techniques appear in sessions and what short-term steps look like.
Confirm the exact session formats before scheduling, since the profile does not list specific options. Online work can make therapy easier to fit into a busy life - for example it can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins during a work break, or let someone avoid being on camera when they prefer not to. Practical benefits often include greater scheduling flexibility and smoother follow-up between appointments.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What types of issues does she help with related to family life?
She works with stressors tied to family and parenting such as blended family issues, caregiver stress, parenting strain, and communication problems.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses a client-centered style that blends clear, solution-focused conversation with cognitive-behavioral and dialectical techniques.
How long has she practiced?
Catherine has 16 years of experience as a mental health provider in Michigan.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is listed as an LMSW and practices in Michigan.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the profile.
How does pricing work?
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 the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.