Catherine Palazzolo

Hi, I’m Cathy, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and families. I earned my Master’s in Social Work and have spent my career in community, school, and clinical settings, supporting teens through academic stress, anxiety, social challenges, and family dynamics. I currently work as a high school social worker, which allows me to understand the day-to-day pressures students face and how those challenges impact both teens and their families.

In addition to my professional background, I’m also a mom of two, so I understand how overwhelming it can feel to balance everything while trying to support your child—or yourself. I work with teens, young adults, and parents, focusing on anxiety, emotional regulation, school-related stress, and improving communication within families.

My approach is supportive, practical, and down-to-earth. I aim to create a space where you feel comfortable being real, while also giving you tools you can actually use in your everyday life.

My approach to therapy is supportive, collaborative, and practical. I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can be yourself without judgment, while also learning tools that actually help in your day-to-day life.

I draw from evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), strengths-based therapy, and solution-focused strategies to help clients better understand their thoughts, manage emotions, and improve communication. With teens, I focus on building trust first: meeting them where they are and helping them feel heard before expecting change.

I also work closely with parents when appropriate, helping them better understand their child and develop strategies to support them at home. My goal is to help clients feel more confident, capable, and in control of how they respond to life’s challenges.

The first session is really about getting to know you and helping you feel comfortable. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what’s been going on, and what you’re hoping to get out of our time together. There’s no pressure to share everything all at once, I’ll meet you where you are.

For teens, I focus on building trust first so they feel heard and understood. For parents, we’ll also talk about your concerns and how I can support both you and your child.

By the end of the session, we’ll have a better sense of your goals and what next steps might look like. My goal is for you to leave feeling a little more at ease and confident about the process.