Catherine Mapa, LICSW — Therapist in Minnesota

Hi there, I'm Catherine!

I'd first like to say that whatever brought you here--- whether its because of a more recent stressful, life altering situation, or an all-consuming feeling that you have never been able to identify, etc. All are valid and a part of the human experience. Is it always fun? No. Fair? Absolutely not. I will be here when you are ready to begin.

My focus

I do my best work with adolescents, neurodiverse clients, those experiencing grief, and the postpartum journey. I pull from holistic approaches to therapy, including but not limited to attachment-based, emotion-focused, strengths-based, and trauma-focused, while employing a social justice, feminist, intersectional, and systemic framework.

My approach

First and foremost– you are the expert of your own experience and you have developed your own survival skills and coping mechanisms. I prefer to meet you where you are, and we can be curious together! We don’t always get to choose parts of our story, and we have to figure them out anyway. My commitment is to accompany you through this work.

My communication style

Laidback, compassionate, direct, and someone who uses the occasional swear word and is absolutely nerdy in my own right; if you want an authentic relationship with your therapist and you don’t mind being challenged and want a therapist who values your story and the skills that you already have we may be a great fit. I value safety & autonomy.

My journey to mental healthcare

I believe therapists should go to therapy (I do!) and do their own work and that the power of community can lead to radical healing. My own experiences of navigating my own mental health journey often allows me to create a braver space for folks, and I believe the opportunity to be a therapist is a deep honor and privilege.

My goals for you

I deeply value and appreciate your instinctive wisdom and embrace utilizing a collaborative approach to therapy. I prefer to meet you where you are, and we can be curious together! It is helpful to identify a main goal to work on or the focus of our work together, whether it is self-esteem, identity, self-advocacy, etc.

Our first session

The idea of therapy for some can be vulnerable and stressful, You may also not even want to have to participate. However, I am very glad you are here, and this first session will be to get to know each other a little bit. I will ask you about your background, some of your interests, whats helpful/what isn't, and what led you to seek services.

I identify as...

Female
Biracial or Multiracial, Caucasian or White
Agnostic, Christian, Spiritual

Expertise

Treatment approaches

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Dialectical (DBT)

Motivational Interviewing

Art Therapy

Attachment-based

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Mindfulness-Based

Narrative

Trauma Focused

+ 9 more

Therapy types

Individual Therapy

Ages served

Minors
Preteens
Adults

Practice

Accepted insurance providers

Aetna
Allegiance
Allied
Arlo (Cigna)
Ascension-SmartHealth

+ 13 more

Languages spoken

English

Education

Master of Science in Social Work, Clinical Social Work with a secondary focus of Health, Aging, and Disability from University of Minnesota.

Sessions

60 minutes

Virtual sessions

Catherine Mapa