Cathy Heaps-Stetson, LMHC

Cathy Heaps-Stetson brings nearly three decades of experience helping people navigate loss, life transitions, and complex emotional challenges. She holds a Master’s degree from Argosy University - Sarasota and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor - LMHC. In addition, she is certified by Grief Recovery as a Grief Recovery Specialist, which reflects focused training in supporting people through bereavement and other significant losses.

Cathy has worked with a wide range of clients, from individuals facing terminal illness to those coping with grief and other barriers that interrupt daily living. She often observes that many difficulties become most apparent after a major change in lifestyle or the experience of loss, and she tailors her work to address those turning points with sensitivity and skill.

Her therapeutic style blends several evidence-based approaches. She uses Gestalt techniques to explore present-moment experience, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts, and mindfulness and relaxation practices to help clients notice and regulate reactions triggered by emotion or thought. Cathy describes herself as a Rogerian or person-centered therapist - empathic, non-directive, and supportive - offering unconditional positive regard while helping clients find their own solutions.

In sessions she emphasizes reflective listening and careful questioning, inviting clients to explore difficult topics at their own pace while providing steady support. Cathy focuses on identifying cognitive barriers and patterns that keep people stuck and teaching practical strategies to move forward. She views clients as the experts on their own lives and aims to create a compassionate space where people can gain clarity, confidence, and direction as they make meaningful change.