Cate Edelstein, LMFT

My biggest driving force for being a therapist has been to help people who have historically fallen through the cracks. I have always found myself walking alongside folks that are seen as being on the fringe of society where opportunity for care and support has been limited. I got my start in mental health care working with inmates and unhoused folks with dual diagnoses. Equal opportunity, nonjudgment, destigmatization, and individuality guide me in my work with others. I treat “meeting others where they are at” as a necessity not a guideline to treatment. My experiences as a clinician have led me to be a clinician who gets creative in my approach with clients who frequently have many overlapping issues they are facing. 

Types of clients treated: 

• Adolescents 16+
• Adults
• Couples 

Types of therapies or interventions used:   

• ACT (trained)
• EMDR (trained)
• DBT (certified)
• CBT
• Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

Types of mental health issues treated:

• Trauma 
• Complex Trauma & Religious Trauma
• Substance abuse 
• Anxiety 
• Depression
• Borderline Personality Disorder 
• Relationship Issues

Licenses/Certifications: 

• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, #148799
• C-DBT Certified

Education: 

•  Cal State University, Long Beach, Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology 

Availability: 

• Telehealth only

Years of experience: 5 years

Why I became a Therapist: 

I knew I wanted to be a therapist since I was 13 years old. I’ve always loved learning about and supporting others and found talking with people as an opportunity to become part of a whole new world. I wasn’t sure exactly what type of therapist I wanted to be until college. I had grown up in what many would call “a broken home” with addiction, poverty, and abuse a part of daily life. College was an escape and an opportunity to connect with others who had shared circumstances to me, primarily in the punk scene of San Francisco. During my first year of college I struggled off and on with homelessness, an experience that really highlighted my desire to help people who have historically been underserved. I’ve made it my mission as a therapist to not only destigmatize mental health but any life experience that is considered out of the ‘normal.’ 

Describe your therapeutic approach and what makes it unique?

I believe therapy works best when built on collaboration and trust, and I approach each person as a unique individual who deserves care tailored to their specific needs. My work focuses on helping clients break down barriers, including shame, self-criticism, and uncertainty, so they can move toward their own meaningful goals. I’m certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and trained in EMDR and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (the latter being my preferred model). I work closely with each client to find the style and approach that best supports their healing and growth. I firmly believe clients are the primary expert of themselves and follow their guidance in growth direction while offering my knowledge, empathy, and tools as ways to support them in getting there. I tend to take a more harm reductionist approach to supporting clients (both with and without addiction based issues) which weaves in with DBT and ACT well. Acceptance and flexibility are at the core of my practices as I allow clients to create their own definition of what success means to them both inside and out of the therapy room. 

Payments & Fees:

As a specialist, Cate offers private pay therapy services and can provide a superbill for clients with PPO insurance plans who wish to use out-of-network benefits. Many clients choose this option and receive partial reimbursement directly from their insurance. Her fees are $150 for individual sessions and $200 for couples.