Kathleen Welch

My name is Katie Welch and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Wailuku, Maui, where I enjoy serving clients across the state of Hawaii. I primarily work with adults and specialize in anxiety, depression, PTSD, sexual trauma, and addiction. My favorite frameworks for care are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, always through the lens of trauma-informed care. This provider resides in Hawaii.

My approach

Just as no person is the same, for best practice, no approach to therapy should be the same, either. Typically, I use Motivational Interviewing to help understand where the client’s life, thoughts, strengths, and challenges currently reside, where they would like to see themselves within their own definition of growth, and then customize a mix of tools pulling from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (my favorite) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to achieve their ideals.

My focus

I specialize in working with adults and teens dealing with addiction, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and sexual trauma, with a special emphasis on Veterans and combat trauma. Over the years I have honed my skills in assisting people to reframe and readjust to life’s challenges, great and small, by use of empathetic listening, evidence-based coping skills, and maintaining a therapeutic alliance built on trust and respect.

My communication style

I subscribe to the notion of fearless honesty, especially within the context of communication and self-growth. I have found the most effective way to inspire and authentically work with others in this vein, is to approach communication with respect, non-judgment, listening to understand, and my innate ability to foster solution-focused banter.

My journey to mental healthcare

Since childhood I have been called to assist others who appeared to be in pain, who were being made fun of, and those who seemed to be the underdog or unsung hero in their own story. It followed naturally to pursue Social Work, where I felt I could make the greatest impact by helping stand by others while they took the courageous steps to improve their own lives. I’ve been guided and mentored by many in my own personal journey, struggles, and triumphs, and feel the utmost honor and privilege to have found a helping profession where I may pass the baton on to others.

My goals for you

My belief in terms of goal setting is to get to know my client first, discuss what has and hasn’t worked in the past, and what the client hopes to achieve in the short and long term, before working together as a team to bring this to life. I like to view goals as dynamic, living entities that can be adjusted many times along the way. I quite enjoy tracking the progress of each client’s goals to see how far they’ve come, which can be hard to see and feel when one is first starting their therapeutic process!

My first session with you

What you can expect from our first session together is for a non-judgmental space to be provided for you to share your reasons for attending therapy, and your thoughts, hopes, concerns, and questions regarding the therapeutic process and relationship. If you’re comfortable, I would ask you to describe any past experiences with therapy and what you most enjoyed, and what you feel could have been improved. The first session is generally about establishing a solid and positive connection on which trust and rapport can be built over time.