Kathleen Lynch Gaffney, LCSW
Calm guidance for managing strong emotions
Explore online therapy optionsWorks with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
How Kathleen works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- New York
- Years in practice
- 35
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Kathleen
Kathleen Lynch Gaffney is a licensed clinical social worker in New York who focuses on helping people manage strong emotions and life stress. She listens without judgment and aims to build a steady, respectful therapeutic relationship. Reaching out is described as an important first step, and she invites people to share their story at their own pace.
She brings 35 years of practice working with people from many backgrounds. Sessions typically center on practical steps you can use between meetings.
Background and approach
She uses clear, direct conversation to help people notice patterns, reduce overwhelm, and try new ways of responding to stress, anger, or relationship strains. Kathleen blends several approaches to match a person's needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy supports noticing difficult feelings while focusing on personal values and meaningful action. Mindfulness techniques help people stay present and reduce reactivity. Her style is collaborative and steady.
She aims to be reliable and attentive while clients set goals and pace. People who are coping with grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, career stress, or issues around intimacy often seek this kind of practical, values-focused work. She also has experience with ADHD concerns and offers support for people affected by HIV or AIDS.
Kathleen welcomes conversations about how therapy could fit into someone’s life and encourages prospective clients to take the next step when they feel ready.
What Kathleen works with
Everything Kathleen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Kathleen's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- HIV / AIDS
Approaches Kathleen lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Kathleen's Approaches Work Online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choosing small actions that match personal values; it can help when anger, anxiety, or life changes get in the way of what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers concrete exercises to test new responses to stress, depression, or relationship worries. Mindfulness Therapy teaches attention skills that reduce reactivity and improve focus, which can be useful for managing anger, impulsivity, and overwhelm.Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify which methods fit a person’s goals and daily life. Sessions often mix techniques so people learn skills, try them between meetings, and then review what helped.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging support people who prefer paced written conversations or who want to follow up between sessions. These options make it easier to fit regular work on anger, stress, or relationship issues into a busy schedule.
Questions people ask about Kathleen
What issues does she help address?
She works with a range of concerns including stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, career strain, parenting challenges, relationship and intimacy-related issues, eating concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. There is also experience supporting people affected by HIV and AIDS.
What is Kathleen's therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. She listens, offers practical tools, and helps people notice patterns in thinking and behavior to make small, workable changes.
How long has she been practicing?
She has practiced for 35 years working with people from diverse backgrounds. That experience informs a steady, experienced approach to common life struggles.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds a Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential (LCSW) in New York and provides services based in that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time and works with clients located in New York.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and communication preferences.
How do I start therapy with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability. The process is intended to match needs and preferences before the first session.