Kimberley VanHaitsma, LMSW

Kimberley VanHaitsma is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan who focuses on practical, person-centered care. She uses straightforward conversation to help people manage anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions. Kim also supports those facing caregiver strain, chronic health challenges, and concerns related to aging and geriatric issues.

Kim draws on a long background in health and crisis settings. Her early work included nursing and later roles in geriatrics and crisis counseling. Over the past decade she has supervised limited license social workers as they worked toward full licensure, so she understands both immediate crisis needs and longer-term therapeutic work.

In sessions she prioritizes clear safety assessment and realistic problem solving. She is comfortable addressing self-harm risk and creating practical safety plans when needed. She also helps people set boundaries, manage compassion fatigue, and rebuild daily routines that support mental and physical well-being.

Her style blends client-centered listening with skills-based approaches. She uses techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral work, dialectical behavior approaches, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused methods. The goal is to build useful tools that fit each person’s life and goals.

Kim offers phone and video contact based on her past crisis work and ongoing comfort with remote support. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to her availability.

How her approaches guide online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and shaping sessions around what matters most to the person. It helps when someone needs a supportive space to talk through goals and decide next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and is often useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, provides tools for emotion regulation and distress tolerance and can help when strong emotions or relationship strain make everyday life harder.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk through needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that fit the person. Expect a collaborative process with attention to what works in your daily life and adjustments as you move forward.

The biography indicates comfort with phone and video contact from prior crisis work, so confirm which options are currently offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They also let people access consistent support when juggling caregiving, medical appointments, or limited mobility related to chronic illness or aging.