Sunset over a stone path flanked by tall grass and purple flowers, with a wooden fence in the background.

Catherine Rice, LMSW

headshot of Catherine Rice

Location

In-person therapy in Port Jefferson, NY
Virtual therapy throughout New York State

Services

Individual Therapy
Therapy for Adolescents and Young Adults
Trauma Therapy
Anxiety and Depression Therapy

Specialties

Anxiety and Depression
Trauma
Sexual Violence and Sexual Trauma
Life Transitions and Identity Exploration
Relationship Challenges
Low Self-Esteem
Overthinking
People-pleasing
Boundary-setting
Emotional overwhelm

When You’re Carrying a Lot and Don’t Know Where to Begin

You may feel like you’re constantly carrying the weight of anxiety, past trauma, or major life changes while trying to keep up with school, work, or relationships.

You might overthink, people-please, question your self-worth, or feel overwhelmed by emotions you don’t fully understand. At night, your mind may race with worries about the future, replay past experiences, or struggle to quiet self-critical thoughts.

I’m Catherine Rice, LMSW. I provide therapy in Port Jefferson and online throughout New York State for adolescents, young adults, college students, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity exploration, relationship challenges, and life transitions.

Why Work With Me

Many of the people I work with want to feel calmer, stop overthinking, heal from trauma, build healthier relationships and boundaries, and feel more confident and connected to themselves.

I provide a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can be yourself while also receiving practical tools to create meaningful change. My clients appreciate feeling truly heard while also being gently challenged to grow.

If you are ready to better understand yourself, explore difficult experiences at your own pace, and practice new ways of coping, this may be a good fit. If you are looking for quick fixes or someone to tell you exactly what to do, my collaborative approach may not be the right fit.

My Approach to Therapy

I believe therapy should feel like a collaborative space where you feel heard, supported, and accepted without judgment.

Together, we explore what is contributing to your current struggles, identify patterns that may no longer be serving you, and develop practical tools that fit your life.

I draw from CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, strengths-based therapy, mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing based on your needs.

The goal is to help you better understand yourself, process difficult experiences, and feel more confident navigating emotions, relationships, and life changes.

headshot of Catherine Rice

What Working With Me Is Like

In sessions, I balance compassion and support with gentle encouragement, practical tools, and honest feedback.

I meet you where you are and move at a pace where you feel safe enough to be yourself while also feeling empowered to grow. We may explore anxiety, depression, trauma, identity, relationships, boundaries, self-worth, or patterns that may be keeping you stuck.

Over time, change may look like trusting yourself more, pausing instead of automatically reacting from anxiety or past hurt, setting healthier boundaries, and responding to challenges with greater confidence.

Getting To Know Me

I have four years of experience in social work and earned my Master of Social Work from Stony Brook University. My background includes outpatient mental health, school social work, and educational support services.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a survivor of sexual violence, my lived experiences deepen my commitment to creating affirming, trauma-informed spaces where clients feel safe, seen, and believed.

Outside of being a therapist, I enjoy movies and TV, music, reading, thrifting, collecting antiques, and spending time with loved ones.

Begin Therapy in Port Jefferson

You don’t have to have everything figured out before coming to therapy.

Together, we can explore what has been weighing on you, better understand your experiences, and develop practical tools that fit your life.

If you are looking for a space where you can feel heard, supported, and more confident moving forward, you can reach out to Lightpath Counseling Group.

Clinical Training & Credentials

When You Feel Nothing Changes

If part of you is tired of going in circles, that matters. If you’re at the point where you almost make a decision and then pull yourself back, that matters too. Lightpath Counseling Group offers in-person therapy in Port Jefferson and virtual sessions across New York. You don’t have to have the right words. You don’t have to have it figured out.