Katara Coates, LGPC

HEALING WORK

Therapy with me is a holistic, collaborative, and person-centered process. I prioritize creating a safe, supportive, and culturally responsive space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood—because a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation for meaningful change.

I have strong experience supporting individuals navigating trauma, grief and loss, and I also work with clients experiencing ADHD-related challenges and non-neurotypical processing, particularly as it relates to emotional regulation, overwhelm, and executive functioning. I understand that healing is not linear, and I tailor my approach to each client’s unique experiences and needs.

I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, trauma-focused practices, humanistic principles, and psychodynamic insight. My work emphasizes connection, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and self-compassion. Together, we focus on practical tools, deeper insight, and sustainable healing—while holding space for authenticity, humor, and resilience.

My impacting identifies/roles that inform my work:

I am a Black woman and mother of four biracial children ranging from 27 to 15, a wife, a daughter who experienced early loss, a lifelong friend, an advocate, a professional, a survivor, and a counselor.

My lived experience, including my personal understanding of grief and loss, shapes how I show up in the therapeutic space. I bring empathy, cultural awareness, spirituality, and authenticity into my work, creating a space where clients feel accepted and supported in bringing their full selves.

I feel informed and knowledgeable about:

I have experience supporting young adults, adults, seniors, and veterans navigating:

• Trauma and complex life experiences
• Grief, loss, and life transitions
• ADHD-related challenges and executive functioning difficulties
• Non-neurotypical processing and emotional overwhelm
• Anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns
• Relationship challenges, boundaries, and communication
• Identity development, self-esteem, and personal growth

I take a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach, helping clients understand how past experiences and current patterns impact their daily lives while building tools for meaningful change.

I work best with clients who value collaboration, show up consistently, and are willing to engage in the process—even when it feels uncomfortable. I especially connect with individuals who feel overwhelmed, carry high expectations, or are working through unresolved emotional experiences.

I am not a good clinical fit for clients under 16, those whose primary concern is disordered eating, or individuals seeking direct answers rather than a collaborative therapeutic process.

What makes me unique: I bring a balance of clinical skill and authentic human connection. Clients often experience me as warm, direct, and engaging. I integrate evidence-based practices with creativity, mindfulness, and relational depth, and I gently challenge patterns that no longer serve you while supporting you through change.

LEARNING AND GROWING

I am committed to being both a lifelong learner and a reflective practitioner.

Recent Training:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certification (C-DBT): Practical Clinical Applications for Trauma, Comorbidities, and Addiction

Ongoing: Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM)

Recently Completed:

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
• It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine
• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
• Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski

I am also influenced by:

• Brainstorm by Daniel J. Siegel
• The Gift of Therapy by Irvin D. Yalom
• The Emotionally Exhausted Woman by Nancy Colier
• Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
• Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin

Education

• AA in Human Services, Addictions
• BA in Sociology
• MS Ed in Mental Health Counseling

FUN FACTS/RESILIENCE BUILDING

What resources me to build resilience: I recharge through travel, especially warm destinations with sun, sand, and water. I ground myself through gardening, journaling, and moments of stillness. Prioritizing rest, connection, and holistic self-care allows me to show up fully in both my life and my work.

 

Katara is supervised by Erika Keller, LCPC.