Kate Conover, PhD

Approach

Fundamentally, my approach to psychotherapy is founded on a desire to empower individuals to build a richer and more meaningful life, and to bolster skills to support them in doing so. This is a collaborative approach in which I use empirically supported practices, primarily, for me, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused treatments such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

Orientation: My work is grounded in approaches that are empirically supported. This includes a range of treatments often founded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Other tools I more commonly use include Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Modalities: Individual

Specialties

My clinical specialties include a range of anxiety challenges such as generalized anxiety and panic, and patterns of perfectionism and overwhelm; impacts of trauma including posttraumatic stress disorder across the lifespan; addressing obsessive-compulsive disorder; mood disorders; and themes of sexuality and gender identity – all LGBTQIA+ care. I have worked in offering and providing education to medical trainees related to gender affirming care for several years; I offer pre-surgical assessments for gender-affirming medical interventions for trans and gender diverse adults and enjoy supporting folks around these processes and through aftercare. I also enjoy opportunities to support clients related to infertility and reproductive health processes, including all types of queer family building. Those seeking care related to values and direction, interpersonal relationships, grief and loss, or struggling with hoarding are also a fit. I previously worked in an academic medical setting and as faculty in a residency program. This leaves me well-situated to support those working in medicine and healthcare or navigating medical systems.

Style And Values

I am told my style is warm and direct, and that I bring focused presence and flexibility. I hope my work is rooted in collaboration, cultural humility, and respect for each individual’s lived experience. It’s particularly meaningful for me to work with those who are members of marginalized communities. As a queer, cis woman with a trans spouse, I enjoy serving those in LGBTQIA+ community. I aim to be poly- and kink-affirming. I’m invested in ongoing reading, training and engagement in anti-racist work and in using this to inform my practice. I consider my work a privilege and a neverendingly interesting challenge. I welcome the chance to be in conversation with you about work we might collaborate on together.