Dr. Kathryn Williams
I think of myself as a guide on this transformational journey to connecting fully with yourself and others, getting rid of unhelpful thoughts and habits, and finding fulfillment in your career and relationships. I am here to help you recover from trauma or dysfunctional relationships, overcome shame and guilt from the past, and change the stories you tell yourself.
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My expertise has made me a sought-after media contributor to multiple outlets including SELF, Huffington Post, and CBS Radio. Check out what I’ve been saying in national media.
Background
Hello there! I am Dr. Kathryn Williams, a licensed psychologist with licenses in both California (PSY26288) and New York (PSY024962).
With almost two decades in the field, I have developed a wealth of experience and knowledge. Growing up in a small town in the South, I have always had a spirit of wanderlust, which has taken me around the world, from studying in Florence to teaching in Japan, and even living in Barcelona off and on for 13 years.
My exposure to diverse cultures and people has greatly enriched my practice and influenced me as I work with clients from all walks of life. I believe in creating connectional moments with my clients and meeting them wherever they are emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
During my early twenties, I spent time exploring Asia, living in Japan in a small fishing village, traveling the world, and teaching. In my mid-twenties, I moved to New Orleans to earn my Ph.D. in Psychology from Tulane University. After experiencing Hurricane Katrina and it’s after effects in 2005, I became interested in studying and researching trauma and anxiety disorders.
In 2010, I moved to Santa Monica, CA to do my doctoral internship at Providence Saint John’s Hospital and loved the work so much I stayed on for ten years. My non-profit work at Saint John’s began primarily working with teens and kids struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and acculturative stress. Later, my passion led me to work primarily with these kids’ parents to help them resolve their own trauma, mental health symptoms, and intergenerational trauma so that they could connect more deeply in their relationships and feel more regulated. While doing this work in 2016, I also developed a private practice conducting in-depth psychoeducation and socioemotional assessments with children, teens, and college students.
My passion for doing deeper psychological work led me to join Thrive Psychology Group in 2020 and later open my own private practice in 2022. I am passionate about helping women and men to develop insight and awareness in their attachment styles and interpersonal needs, understand how they show up in relationships, and help them connect fully with themselves and others.
I understand that change can be difficult. My goal is to support you in navigating your big, beautiful life and help you move from chaos and confusion to a space of flow and endless possibilities.
Let me show you how to end your struggle with shame and perfectionism, expand your capacity for self-love, develop internal sturdiness, and build healthy habits and relationships in the process.
My approach includes using warmth, humor, and acceptance to build a strong relationship with my clients and to create a safe space to do meaningful work.
My expertise has made me a sought-after media contributor to multiple outlets, including SELF, Huffington Post, and CBS Radio. As a specialist in working with leaders in their industries, including film and TV, social media influencers, attorneys, and entrepreneurs, I support my clients in navigating the stresses of their careers and finding the next level of success.
I work with trauma and help you move towards integrating your difficult experiences and healing old wounds.
I strive to be at the top of my game by seeking continuing education, staying up to date on current research, and using evidence-based therapies in an integrated approach.
Where I have been and what I am working on:
Ph.D. in Psychology from Tulane University in 2011
Licensed as a Psychologist in California (PSY26288) and in New York (PSY024962)
Psychologist, Clinical Supervisor, and Doctoral Internship Faculty at Providence Saint John’s Child and Family Development Center in Santa Monica, CA from 2010 to 2020
Certified Diplomat in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with the Academy of Cognitive Therapy in 2016
Private practice in Psychological Assessment with children and adolescents from 2016 to 2020 in Los Angeles, CA
Senior Lead Psychologist at Thrive Psychology Group in Santa Monica, CA from 2020 to 2022
Trained in EMDR through EMDRIA in 2021