Kimberley VanHaitsma

Kimberley VanHaitsma is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan. She brings ten years of counseling experience and a background that includes crisis work and geriatric care. Kim speaks plainly and meets people where they are.

She focuses on stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and compassion fatigue. Kim also helps with relationship and family concerns, grief, career questions, and coping with life changes. Isolation and loneliness are among the issues she supports people through.

Her earlier work included crisis counseling where quick safety assessments and practical plans were essential. That experience shaped how she responds to distress and troubling thoughts in the moment. She is used to asking direct questions and making clear, actionable plans.

Kim uses client-centered methods alongside cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior approaches. She blends mindfulness and motivational interviewing so sessions focus on what matters to each person. The work often includes setting boundaries, building coping skills, and finding day-to-day routines that help mood and energy.

People with chronic illness or caregiving responsibilities often find her perspective helpful because she understands the physical and emotional overlap. She is comfortable talking about difficult topics and supporting practical next steps. To begin, she asks people about their goals and priorities, then shapes sessions around those needs.

How therapy approaches guide online work

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and following the person's lead to identify what matters most. It helps people feel heard and clarifies personal goals so sessions stay focused on real life needs.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It helps with anxiety, depression, and day-to-day coping by teaching practical tools to change unhelpful patterns.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) adds skills for managing intense emotions and improving coping when stress feels overwhelming. It can be useful for strong mood swings and high-stress moments.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kimberley collaborates with each person to choose what fits best based on goals, preferences, and how they respond to initial sessions. She adjusts methods over time so the plan stays useful.

Confirm the specific session options before booking since formats were described in the original biography but not exhaustively listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow a shorter check-in when needed, or offer phone contact when video is not practical. These practical benefits help people keep therapy consistent while juggling caregiving, work, or health demands.