Catherine Desponett
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Addiction Counselor based in Colorado, helping individuals, couples, and families navigate anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. My approach is direct, supportive, and growth-oriented—I combine evidence-based practices like CBT, ACT, and DBT with deeper insight work to help you create meaningful, lasting change. I also specialize in working with professionals in high-demand fields. While not limited to these areas, some examples include individuals in the criminal justice system, medical field, legal field, and fellow clinicians. These roles often come with high levels of stress, responsibility, and emotional strain, and I provide a space where you can step out of that role, process what you carry, and receive the support you’re often expected to give to others.
These roles often come with high levels of stress, responsibility, and emotional strain, and I provide a space where you can step out of that role, process what you carry, and receive the support you’re often expected to give to others.
I work best with clients who are ready to move beyond feeling stuck and want both actionable tools and meaningful self-exploration. Whether you're navigating personal struggles, relationship dynamics, or the unique pressures of your profession, I provide a grounded, collaborative space where you can build confidence, clarity, and alignment with who you want to be.
First session
In your first session, we’ll focus on getting to know you—what’s bringing you in, what you’ve been dealing with, and what you want to feel different in your life. I’ll ask some guiding questions about your current concerns, relevant history, and patterns you may be noticing, but there’s no pressure to share everything at once. We’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable and respectful of where you are. You can expect a structured yet conversational approach. I’ll guide the session in a way that helps us begin identifying clear priorities and initial goals, while also giving you space to share what matters most. When appropriate, I may introduce early insights or practical tools so you can leave your first session with something useful and actionable. My goal is for you to walk away feeling heard, understood, and more clear about your next steps. We’ll also talk about what working together can look like—my approach, what to expect, and how we can move forward—so you can confidently decide if this feels like the right fit for you.
Strengths
What stands out about my approach is the balance between depth and practicality. I don’t just help you understand why you feel or behave a certain way—I also provide clear, actionable tools to create change in real time. Sessions are both insight-oriented and skills-based, so you leave with something you can apply immediately in your daily life. I’m direct, engaged, and collaborative. I will challenge patterns that are keeping you stuck, while also creating a space where you feel supported and understood. My work integrates a range of evidence-based and experiential approaches—including CBT, ACT, DBT, somatic strategies, and other modalities tailored to your needs—along with deeper exploration of identity, values, and relational dynamics. Clients often come to me when they’ve tried other approaches and still feel stuck. What tends to stand out is the shift from simply “talking about problems” to actively working through them—building self-awareness, emotional regulation, and more aligned ways of showing up in your life, relationships, and decision-making.
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to serve individuals, couples, and families who are motivated for meaningful change and ready to engage in deeper, insight-oriented work. Many of the clients I work with are navigating high levels of stress, anxiety, trauma, relational conflict, or major life transitions, and are seeking not just symptom relief, but a more grounded, values-aligned way of living. I specialize in working with clients who feel stuck in patterns—whether that’s overthinking, emotional reactivity, avoidance, people-pleasing, or disconnection in relationships—and who want practical tools alongside deeper exploration. This includes individuals working through anxiety, trauma, substance use concerns, identity shifts, or self-esteem challenges, as well as couples seeking to rebuild trust, improve communication, and reconnect emotionally. My approach is particularly well-suited for clients who appreciate both structure and depth—those who want actionable strategies (CBT, DBT, ACT, somatic tools) while also engaging in insight, accountability, and personal growth. I also work well with high-functioning individuals, professionals, and those involved in legal or high-stakes systems who value clear, direct, and grounded guidance. Overall, I serve clients who are ready to look honestly at themselves, challenge unhelpful patterns, and build a life and relationships that reflect their values, integrity, and long-term goals.
Origin story
I became a therapist because I believe people deserve a place where they can be heard, understood, and supported as they navigate life’s challenges. I am drawn to the connection between our experiences, relationships, and the stories we carry about ourselves. Understanding those connections can create room for healing and meaningful change. What continues to inspire me is the courage people bring to therapy. Asking for help, examining painful patterns, or trying a different way of responding can feel vulnerable. I value the opportunity to walk alongside clients as they recognize their strengths, clarify what matters to them, and develop skills that support the life they want to build. My interest in marriage and family therapy reflects my belief that we grow within relationships. Family experiences, partnerships, and community connections can influence how we communicate, cope, and understand our worth. Exploring these influences can help clients make intentional choices about how they want to relate to themselves and others. I am also passionate about helping people navigate addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. These experiences can leave people feeling disconnected from themselves or uncertain about the future. Therapy offers an opportunity to work toward greater understanding, stability, and connection at a pace that respects each person’s needs. As a therapist, I strive to bring warmth, curiosity, honesty, and practical support to our work together. I want clients to feel comfortable being themselves while also feeling encouraged to grow. What makes this profession meaningful to me is witnessing people begin to trust themselves, communicate their needs, establish healthier boundaries, and respond to challenges with greater flexibility and compassion. I find purpose in helping clients translate insight into everyday choices, so the progress they make in therapy becomes something they can experience in their relationships, routines, and sense of possibility.
Treatment methods
Integrative
Integrative therapy is about using the right tools for the right person at the right time—blending strategies to support the whole person (thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, and physiology).
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions107 S 9th St, Cañon City, CO 81212