Catherine Harris, LCSW

About me

With 19 years in the mental health field, my career has been defined by leadership, clinical excellence, and a passion for growth.

Beyond my direct work with clients, I have spent years coaching and mentoring new therapists, leading mental health programs, and training the next generation of practitioners.

This deep background as a mentor ensures that the strategies we use are grounded in the highest level of clinical insight and real-world efficacy.

In my practice, I specialize in ADHD, executive functioning, self-esteem, and confidence.

I help people understand how their minds work and build practical systems that support follow-through, communication, and real-world success.

Growing up around highly capable people with ADHD—and navigating similar challenges myself—gives me a deeply grounded understanding of both the struggles and the strengths that come with it.

My focus is helping you move out of self-doubt and into self-trust, using strategies that work with your brain—not against it.

MY APPROACH
My style is direct, practical, and goal-oriented. Rather than spending months over-analyzing the past, we focus on what works right now. I integrate:

Solution-Focused Therapy to build on your existing strengths.

Motivational Interviewing to clarify what truly drives you.

Systems-Based Strategies to adjust routines, environments, and communication for immediate, better outcomes.

Many clients come to me feeling stuck—struggling with follow-through, confidence, or communication at work and in relationships. Together, we focus on breaking that cycle and building systems that make progress easier and more sustainable.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Therapy with me often feels more like active coaching. We focus on observation, experimentation, and momentum.

Through our work, you can expect to:

Improve self-awareness and rebuild core confidence.

Set flexible, realistic goals that actually stick.

Build simple, tailored systems for productivity and clearer communication.

Reduce daily friction and dramatically increase follow-through.

Learn to use exactly how your brain works to your advantage.

I work primarily with adults with ADHD, with a strong focus on executive functioning and real-world strategies.

BACKGROUND & EXPERTISE
My diverse background spans private practice, group therapy, and large-scale mental health program leadership. In addition to my clinical work and therapist mentorship, I have a strong foundation in leadership training and employment advocacy (including union leadership and EEOC investigation).

While I am trained in multiple advanced modalities—including trauma-informed care, ACT, CBT, MBCT, and EMDR—my approach always remains practical, focused, and results-driven.

NEXT STEPS
If you’re ready for an active, engaging approach that focuses on clarity, confidence, and momentum, let's connect. Together, we’ll build a system that supports real, lasting change.

Professional experience

Additional areas of focus: Trauma and abuse, Depression, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Body image, Communication problems, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Post-traumatic stress, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Workplace issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Systemic Therapy

License information

IL LCSW 149.017438

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Catherine Harris. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.