Kara Kaatz, Ph.D

Dr. Kaatz is a postdoctoral fellow.  She obtained her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Dakota.  She completed her predoctoral health service psychology internship at the University of Minnesota.  Dr. Kaatz has worked in a range of clinical settings including community mental health, university counseling, residential treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance misuse, primary care behavioral health, and psychiatric hospital services.  Dr. Kaatz’s areas of interest include anxiety, relationships, identity, life transitions, adjustment, self-compassion, empowerment, trauma, grief, attachment, depression, and working with individuals with chronic health concerns.  

Dr. Kaatz’s therapeutic approach is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) integrated with interpersonal, existential, and strengths-based approaches.  Dr. Kaatz provides a supportive and empathetic environment where individuals feel secure and valued.  She works collaboratively with individuals on developing goals for therapy.  She explores personal and salient identity strengths to determine what may be most helpful for individuals in reaching their goals.  Dr. Kaatz works collaboratively with individuals to identify unhelpful beliefs that keep them from living a meaningful life as they define it.  Dr. Kaatz highlights identity, relationships, and interpersonal patterns toward furthering meaningful self-understanding and awareness.  Dr. Kaatz also explores patterns that individuals find problematic and hinder meaningful and supportive relationships.  

Dr. Kaatz is trained in evidence-based treatments including CBT and mindfulness-based approaches.