About Me
Who is Cedar Spring Counseling?
Kathleen opened her therapy practice, Cedar Spring Counseling LLC, in 2022 while recognizing a need for continuing mental health support around the world following the COVID-19 pandemic. Kathleen also had a dream to become a business owner and better balance work with the family demands of two young children. And so, Cedar Spring Counseling was born. I currently see clients throughout Maryland and Virginia via telehealth, which enables me to provide you with flexibility to see your provider from the comforts of your home, office, or wherever is most convenient. I am also able to see clients in-person at my office location in Manassas, VA.
Your Therapist
Kathleen A. Otero, M.A.Ed, LPC/LCPC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) working in both Maryland and Virginia. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Christopher Newport University and a Master’s degree in Counselor Education with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Virginia Tech.
I spent the first several years of my counseling career providing in-home therapy to children, adolescents and their families, and this has given me a unique perspective on understanding the suffering that families go through when one or more members are struggling with mental illness. I also have experience working with adults in outpatient and residential settings, and serving members of our military through the many challenges that military life presents. I have training in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), trauma-informed care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment, parenting and perinatal mental health, Functional Family Therapy (FFT), and more.
In my personal life, I enjoy practicing yoga and mindfulness, playing with my dog, and spending time with my husband and kids. I believe my own self-care is an important part to staying present and engaged with the clients I serve, and I make a conscious effort every day to make sure I’m bringing the best of myself to each therapeutic relationship.
I use a holistic approach to treating mental illness, because one-size-fits-all oftentimes does not actually “fit all”. I approach my work with the belief that people do the best they can with what they have in the moment and that we all yearn for a sense of safety and connection. My role as a clinician, therefore, is to offer a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where clients can reflect, learn, and work towards reaching their ultimate potential.
Maryland License #LC9878
Virginia License #0701011336.