Therapist profile
Dr. Kathleen Ayers, CA Psychologist 18954
California
Dr. Kathleen Ayers - Psychologist, Anger and Stress
Continue with KathleenKey details
- CredentialsCA Psychologist 18954
- LicensePsychologist, California / 18954
- NPI1588643217
- Experience32 years
- LanguagesEnglish
- LocationCalifornia
About
- CBT and ACT methods
- DBT skills for emotions
- Chronic pain support
About Kathleen
Dr. Kathleen Ayers is a clinical psychologist licensed in California (CA Psychologist 18954) with 32 years of experience. She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, sleep problems, trauma and abuse, and a broad range of other concerns. Her work includes support for those facing chronic pain, caregiver strain, and life changes.
She often combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in sessions. CBT tools are used to identify patterns of thought and behavior that keep problems going. ACT techniques focus on values and committed action, and can help people live more deliberately despite difficult feelings.
Dr. Ayers also uses skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance. She assigns practical homework between sessions to build new habits and test changes in everyday life. Insomnia is addressed with CBT approaches for sleep when relevant.
Her experience includes lengthy work with people who have chronic medical conditions and persistent pain, where validating people's reports of symptoms has been a focus. She has training related to nutrition and diet, though she does not practice as a dietitian or nutritionist.
Dr. Ayers works with individuals and groups and has developed an interest in supporting people who report trauma after unusual or paranormal experiences. Prospective clients should confirm current session options before booking.
How sessions work
How ACT, CBT and DBT translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values even when strong feelings are present. It is useful for anxiety, anger, and coping with chronic health problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors that keep problems going, and it often includes concrete homework like behavior experiments or thought records. Dialectical Behavior Therapy teaches skills in emotion regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance to reduce reactivity and improve interpersonal responses. Choosing the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to see which methods fit their goals, preferences, and day-to-day demands. That may mean emphasizing skills practice one week and values-based action the next. Confirm the available session formats before booking, since the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find that doing homework between sessions and practicing skills in real situations is simpler to manage when sessions can be scheduled around work or caregiving responsibilities.Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
32+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, sleep problems, trauma and related concerns, plus chronic pain and caregiver stress.
How would she approach anger in sessions?
She uses CBT to spot thinking and behavior patterns and DBT skills to build emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 32 years of experience as a clinical psychologist practicing in California.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a California psychologist, listed as CA Psychologist 18954, and practices in California.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she offer?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are used.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location; 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.
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 unsafe, use the crisis numbers.