Dr. Kathleen Jager

Dr. Kathleen Jager is a Michigan licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of professional experience. She works with adults who are feeling stuck or uncertain about what comes next, including people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma, grief, and questions about life purpose.

Clients meet a therapist who focuses on practical conversation and clear steps. Sessions address coping with life changes, managing symptoms of depression or anxiety, and recovering after abusive or traumatic events. Kathleen also helps with compassion fatigue, caregiver stress, and problems tied to adoption, attachment, or family of origin.

Her approach draws on client-centered work that prioritizes the person's perspective, cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and narrative methods to reframe life stories. She uses solution-focused strategies to set achievable short-term goals alongside trauma-focused tools when past events are central to current struggles.

Kathleen describes therapy as a collaborative process where goals and plans are developed together. She adapts conversation and interventions to what each person brings to sessions. That includes practical coping skills, ways to handle relationship tensions, and support for people questioning career or personal direction.

She practices in Michigan and works in English. The first step is a short matching questionnaire and scheduling an initial session to see if the approach fits a person's needs.

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person's perspective and concerns, encouraging open dialogue and problem clarification. It helps when someone wants to talk through what matters most and set personal priorities.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to test and change unhelpful thinking. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

Narrative therapy invites people to consider and retell the stories they live by, separating problems from identity and making room for new possibilities. It can be useful when someone feels defined by past events or stuck in a limiting narrative.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Kathleen will help figure out which methods fit a person's needs, goals, and preferences, and will adjust the plan as sessions proceed. That collaborative selection helps keep sessions relevant and focused.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Some people prefer audio-only for lower bandwidth or not being on camera, while others choose video to use visual cues during conversation. These practical considerations help shape how sessions are scheduled and used.