- 32 years experience
- Sleep and rest focus
- CBT and ACT approaches
About Kathleen
Dr. Kathleen Ayers is a California-based psychologist with more than three decades of experience. She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and sleep difficulties. Her work also covers trauma, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and compassion fatigue.
She draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy in sessions. Those approaches shape practical, goal-focused work and often include short homework exercises between meetings. She also uses skills from dialectical behavior therapy when emotion regulation and distress tolerance are needed.
Dr. Ayers has long experience helping people with chronic pain and ongoing medical conditions. Many clients seeking support around sleep and rest find her combination of behavioral strategies and acceptance-based tools helpful for breaking unhelpful patterns and improving nightly routines.
Her bedside manner is direct but compassionate. She encourages plain talking about symptoms, daily habits, and realistic goals. Sessions are collaborative, with attention to what fits someone’s life and energy level.
Outside clinical hours she has pursued study related to nutrition and health and has worked with groups as well as individuals. She asks new clients to be ready for some take-home practice as part of the work together.
How ACT, CBT, and DBT Guide Online Support
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice their thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then take steps that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep problems that are worsened by worry and rumination.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings and teaches concrete strategies to change unhelpful patterns. CBT often includes short exercises and sleep-focused techniques that aim to shift daily routines and nighttime habits.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing strong emotions and tolerating distress. These tools can help when anger, panic, or intense mood swings interfere with sleep and day-to-day functioning.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss what feels most relevant and tailor elements from these approaches to match each person’s needs, goals, and preferences in a collaborative way.
Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and offer continuity when travel or health concerns make in-person visits hard. Ask about the available session formats when you start the match process to see what will work best for your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
32+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and sleeping difficulties, among other issues like chronic pain and trauma.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is practical and compassionate. She uses clear language, assigns brief homework, and works with each person to set realistic goals.
What is her professional background?
She has practiced as a clinical psychologist for 32 years and has extensive work with people who have chronic medical conditions and pain.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She is licensed as CA Psychologist 18954 and practices in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.